The VFW recently held the Patriot's Pen Essay Contest. The worldwide contest gives students in grades 6, 7, and 8 the opportunity to write a 300 to 400 word themed essay expressing their views on democracy while competing for the worthwhile awards and prizes.

The VFW enacted the Patriot's Pen youth essay competition in 1995 as a way to encourage young minds to examine America's history, along with their own experiences in modern American society while improving their writing skills.

Amaya Rios, an 8th grade student in Ekalaka, is the first-place winner of the VFW's 2017 Patriot's Pen youth...