VFW urges high school students to enter the Voice of Democracy speech contest

Posted on July 2, 2020
Young people who can communicate their patriotism could earn some cash for college. (Photo courtesy: VFW)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Now more than ever – young people should be interested in patriotism and democracy.

Laurie Emmer, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Illinois, wants children in grades 6-12 to enter the VFW’s contests: the Patriot’s Pen essay contest for middle school and the Voice of Democracy for high school.

“What I hear from our youth — it just warms me, what they come up with!” Emmer said. “I just want to scream this off rooftops: Please enter it! Parents – please, please encourage your children to enter this. This is fantastic!”

National winners will take home $30,000 for the Voice of Democracy and $5,000 for the Patriot’s Pen.

The Patriot’s Pen theme this year is “What Is Patriotism to Me?” The Voice of Democracy theme this year is “Is This the Country Our Founders Envisioned?”

Emmer, of Sycamore, is the first woman and the first Iraq / Afghanistan veteran to command the Illinois VFW.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

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