Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6958 in Marion and its Ladies Auxiliary are accepting entries in patriotic essay contests.

The theme of this year’s Voice of Democracy essay contest for high school students is “Is there pride in serving in our military?”

The theme of this year’s Patriot’s Pen essay contest for students in grades six through eight is “Are you proud of your country?”

Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen are nationwide essay contests sponsored by the VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary. The contests have four levels: local, regional, state, and national. The top entries advance to the next level.

Voice of Democracy participants should write an essay and make an audio recording of reading it. The recording should be between three and five minutes long.

The national first-place entry will win a $30,000 scholarship and a trip to Washington, D.C., for the winner and a parent or guardian. The first-place entry locally will receive $200 from the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary. Second and third places will receive $150 and $100, respectively. Last year’s winner, Madison Chamberland also won $150 for placing second at the district level.

Patriot’s Pen participants write a 300- to 400-word essay on the theme.

The national first-place essay writer will win a $10,000 savings bond and a trip to Washington, D.C., for the winner and a parent or guardian. If there are more than 25 entries locally, the post will select winners and runners up for both seventh and eighth grades. Winners will receive two $100 U.S. savings bonds. The runners up will receive two $50 savings bonds.

VFW Post 6958 in Marion will accept Voice of Democracy entries until Nov. 1 and Patriot’s Pen entries until 9 a.m. Nov. 2.

For more information, contact post quartermaster Bill Keith at (620) 381-3590 or ladies auxiliary president Donna Kreutziger at (620) 382-2931 or canada@southwind.net.