national vfw essay

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

2024-2025 Theme Coming March 2024

Established in 1947, our  Voice of Democracy  audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 40,000 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$15,000, and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. Want to apply?

2024-2025 Entry Form

VOD Deadlines:

Midnight, October 31, Entries to the Post

  December 13, District Winners due to Department Chairman

Rules and Eligibility Requirements: VOD Rules / Eligibility

Download the 2024-2025 VOD Entry Form here: Coming soon

Voice of Democracy National Awards List

DO NOT mail District entries and required forms to State Headquarters.  Mail them directly to the State Voice of Democracy Chairman!

POST PARTICIPATION REPORTING PACKET

DISTRICT PARTICIPATION REPORTING PACKET (by POST):

DISTRICT VOD / PP WINNER REPORT:

Click Here 

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• Media & Events
• Latest Releases

VFW Opens Annual Youth Patriotic Scholarship Contests

The programs award more than $3 million to middle and high school students.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is now accepting entries for its 2022-23 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen youth scholarship competitions. America’s high school students will be required to answer, “Why Is the Veteran Important?” while middle school students will have the opportunity to declare, “My Pledge to Our Veterans.”

The Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition is open to all students in grades 9-12, with the top national prize scholarship totaling $30,000. Nearly 25,000 high school students compete in the annual competition. This year’s winner, Daniela Mare, was sponsored by VFW Post 9486 and its Auxiliary in Centereach, New York. Listen to her award-winning audio-essay here .

Open to all students in grades 6-8, more than 68,800 students participate annually in the Patriot’s Pen essay competition. Syed Ali, the 2021-2022 Patriot’s Pen first place winner, was sponsored by VFW Post 521 and its Auxiliary in New Iberia, Louisiana. Listen to his award-winning entry here .

Student entries may be submitted (along with a completed entry form) to their local participating VFW Post. The deadline for both contests is Oct. 31, 2022.

Find your local VFW Post , or read more about the contests .  

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PATRIOT'S PEN

2024-2025 THEME: 

"My Voice in America's Democracy"

WHAT IS THE PATRIOT’S PEN?

Conducted nationwide, this VFW-sponsored youth essay competition gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. We invite you to join the more than 73,000 students who participated last year in this contest.  

WHO CAN ENTER?

Patriot’s Pen is open to 6th, 7th and 8th-grade students enrolled by the Oct. 31 deadline in public, private or parochial schools in the U.S., its territories or its possessions; or dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools. Home-schooled students also are eligible. Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be lawful U.S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence (the application which has not been denied) and intends to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law. (Foreign exchange students are ineligible.)

PATRIOT’S PEN Deadlines: The deadlines for Patriot’s Pen are as follows:

 1.     Midnight, October 31, Entries to the Post*

2.    November 15, Completion of Post judging**

3.    December 10, Completion of District judging**

4.    December 10, January 15, Posts need to submit report on dashboard to acknowledge that they participated in Patriot Pen*

5.    December 13, Email or fax a copy of your winning essay to the email or fax above*(Email preferred)

6.    December 15, District winning entry packet  with head shot picture of winner must be received by Department Chairman*

7.    January 10, Completion of Department judging**

8.    January 15, District participation reports to Department Chairman* District chairmen should roll up the post reports into one District report. All District reports must be received by 15 January and include the phone number and email address of the chairman of that district .*

9.    January 15, Districts must submit a report and approve post reports on dashboard to acknowledge that the posts and District participated in Patriot Pen*

10.  January 15, Department winners to National*

11.  January 31, Department reports to National*

  *required deadlines

**suggested deadlines

DO NOT mail District entries and required forms to State Headquarters!

Mail them directly to the State Patriot’s Pen Chairman!

Department (State) Awards:

First, second, and third place state winners will receive awards presented by State Chairman at the Mid-Winter Conference.

Click here to view the Rules & Eligibility Requirements:  Patriots-Pen-Rules-and-Eligibility.pdf

Click here to download the current year Entry Form:  Patriots-Pen-Entry-Form-Fillable.pdf

  Contact our State Patr iot's Pen Chairman for more information:

Address 10185 Mammoth Baton Rouge, LA 70814 Contact Us via Email Phone: 225.928-5025

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VOICE OF DEMOCRACY

Donate to department of new jersey.

Our programs support our service members while they are on the front line, as they are being discharged and long after they return. Your tax-deductible donation will be immediately directed to the VFW programs where your support is most urgently needed.

Address 171 Jersey St, Bldg 5 2nd Floor Trenton NJ, NJ 08611 Contact Us via Email Phone: 609-393-1929 Fax: 609-393-3031

Ken Hagemann, USMC

State Adjutant/QM

Phone: 609-393-1929

Email:  [email protected]

Filipe Oliveira, NAVY

State Inspector

Email:  [email protected]

Helen Inirio, ARMY

Assistant to State Adjutant/QM

Membership/Bonds/Poppies

Email:  [email protected]

Deborah Donaghy, ARMY

Office Assistant

Email:  [email protected]

Meggan McFadden

Office Administrator

Email: [email protected]

Bob Weiss, USMC    

Department Veteran Service Officer

Phone: 609-393-1952

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #50928

Joshua Hansen, ARMY

Veterans Service Officer

Email:  [email protected]   [email protected]

VA Accreditation #43230

Charles Thorp, ARMY

Veteran Service Officer

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #53925

Mike Boll, USMC

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #53920

Jaime Santiago, ARMY

Phone: 856-401-7660

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #51517

Gloucester County Veterans Affairs

211 County House Rd

Kevin O'Hora, USMC

Phone: 201-336-6329

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #49906

Bergen County Department of Human Services

One Bergen County Plaza - 2nd fl - Hackensack NJ

Shaun Hutchinson, ARMY

Phone: 201-336-6326

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #52036

Kevin Gynegrowski, ARMY

Phone: 201-336-7474

Email: [email protected]

VA Accreditation #56635

Denise Balderama, USMC/ARMY

Assistant Veteran Service Officer

Email:  [email protected]

VA Accreditation #29542

Adrian Romero, ARMY

Outreach Coordinator

Phone: 609-569-2176

Email:  [email protected]

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YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS

The national Veterans of Foreign Wars has several scholarships that students may compete for each year. Applications are received by Posts throughout the nation. Initial applications, for local students, must be submitted to Dixon-Conderman VFW Post 2514.   Voice of Democracy   Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.  Each year, nearly 25,000 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.  The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. Before submitting your essay, read the rules and eligibility requirements . Applications must be downloaded, completed, and turned in by midnight, Oct. 31 .    The 2024-25 theme is:  "Is America Today Our Forefathers' Vision?" Patriot's Pen   Each year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of nearly $1 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000!  The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Before submitting your essay  read the rules and eligibility requirements . Applications must downloaded, completed, and turned in by midnight, Oct. 31 .   The 2024-25 theme is:  "My Voice in America's Democracy?"

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Bring your lawn chairs to the Brickyard this Friday for music, food & drink and a great time. Shows start at 5:30

Richland Source

North Central Ohio's Independent Local News

Ashland student takes top prize in national VFW essay competition

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ASHLAND – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has announced Bryant Day, an eighth grade student from Ashland, has been selected the national first-place winner and recipient of a $5,000 award in its 2023-2024 Patriot’s Pen essay contest.

Day, who was sponsored by VFW Post 9943 and its Auxiliary located in Mansfield, wrote his winning essay based on this year’s theme, “How Are You Inspired by America?”

As the national first place winner, Day was presented with his award at the 2024 VFW Washington Conference during tonight’s Parade of Winners award ceremony in Washington, D.C., where  he delivered his winning essay  before conference attendees.

Since its inception nearly 30 years ago, the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen essay competition has helped foster patriotism by encouraging young minds to examine our nation’s history along with their own experiences in modern American society while improving their writing skills.

Open to eligible sixth, seventh and eighth grade students, the competition requires students to submit a 300- to 400-word essay expressing their views on a selected patriotic theme while competing for their share of nearly $1 million in awards and prizes.

Nearly 55,800 students participated in this year’s competition. Day  competed at the national level against 53 other state finalists vying for individual awards ranging from $500 to $5,000. The VFW awarded more than $55,000 in national awards this year.  View the full list of 2024 Patriot’s Pen National winners here .

Learn more about the Patriot’s Pen program here .

About Veterans of Foreign Wars

  The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is the nation’s largest and oldest major war veterans organization.

Founded in 1899, the congressionally chartered VFW is comprised entirely of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces.

With more than 1.4 million VFW and Auxiliary members located in nearly 6,000 Posts worldwide, the nonprofit veterans service organization is proud to proclaim “NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS” than the VFW, which is dedicated to veterans’ service, legislative advocacy, and military and community service programs.

For more information or to join, visit the website at  vfw.org .

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PATRIOT'S PEN

Conducted nationwide, this VFW-sponsored youth essay competition gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. We invite you to join the more than 138,000 students who participated last year in this contest. The national winners will receive at least $500. The first-place national award is currently $5,000. The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) has again approved this contest for its National Advisory List of Contests and Activities.   VFW’s Commander-in-Chief annually chooses the year’s theme. The 2024-25 theme is   " My Voice in America's Democracy?"   A big thank you to the North Carolina Military Order of the Cootie for sponsoring these monetary awards!   Entry Form   Eligibility   Score Sheet   For further information, please contact our Department Chairman, Jeff Friar.    Phone: (704) 953-6408 Email: [email protected]   

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PATRIOT'S PEN

Each year more than 68,000 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s  Patriot’s Pen  youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $865,000 in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. 

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.

The 2023-24 theme is "How are you inspired by America" 

Want to Apply?  R ead the rules and eligibility requirements found on the below Entry Form.

PP Entry Form

VOD/PP Chairman's Manual

PP District to Department Chairman Summary

PP District to Department Post Awards Report

PP Score Sheet

VOD-PP Donation Flyer

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YOUTH ESSAYS

Youth Scholarships

The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $35,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships may be for you.

Voice of Democracy

Established in 1947, our  Voice of Democracy  audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.  Each year, nearly 25,000 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. Before submitting your essay, download the  2024-2025 entry form here  and find your sponsoring  local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 . 

The 2024-25 theme is:  "Is America Today Our Forefathers' Vision?"

About the 2023-2024 winner ...

Sophia Lin, a high school junior at BASIS Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, was named the 2023-2024 Voice of Democracy first place winner. Sophia's speech on the theme, "What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?" won her a $35,000 college scholarship. Sophia was sponsored by Scottsdale VFW Post 3513.  Watch as Sophia delivered her speech during the VFW's Parade of Winners award  ceremony or  read it here .

Want to catch up on everything that happened this year? You can watch the full  Parade of Winners ceremony  which was streamed live on Facebook, or  see this year's complete list of winners .

Patriot's Pen

Each year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s  Patriot’s Pen  youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of nearly $1 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000! 

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Before submitting your essay,  download the 2024-2025 entry form here  and  find your sponsoring  local VFW Post  as applications must be turned in by  midnight, Oct. 31 . 

The 2024-25 theme is:  "My Voice in America's Democracy?"

Bryant Day, an eighth grade student from Ashland, Ohio, was named the 2023-2024 Patriot's Pen first place winner. His essay on the theme, "How Are You Inspired by America?" won the national first place $5,000 award. Bryant was sponsored by VFW Post 9943 and its Auxiliary in Mansfield, Ohio.

Watch as Bryant delivered his winning essay  during the VFW's Parade of Winners streamed live on Facebook, or  read  his essay here.  See the complete list of 2024 national winners .

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• School Life

Essay on National Sports Day in English: 10 Lines, Short and Long Essay Ideas

National sports day , celebrated on august 29th, this day highlights the importance of physical fitness, sportsmanship, and teamwork, encouraging individuals to embrace an active lifestyle and appreciate the values embodied by sports..

10 lines on National Sports Day 

• National Sports Day is celebrated on August 29th each year in honor of Major Dhyan Chand, an Indian hockey player.
• The day highlights the importance of sports and physical fitness in our daily lives.
• Major Dhyan Chand, known for his extraordinary skills, played a crucial role in India's success in hockey.
• National Sports Day serves as a tribute to his contributions and achievements in the world of sports.
• The day encourages people of all ages to engage in physical activities and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
• Schools, colleges, and sports organizations organize various events to celebrate sports and inspire participants.
• Activities on National Sports Day include sports demonstrations, friendly matches, and fitness challenges.
• The day also features motivational talks and awards recognizing outstanding athletes and teams.
• National Sports Day fosters a sense of unity, teamwork, and sportsmanship among individuals.
• By celebrating this day, we honor the values of discipline and dedication that sports teach us and encourage a lifelong commitment to fitness and well-being.

Essay on National Sports Day in 300 Words

National Sports Day, celebrated on August 29th every year, is a special occasion dedicated to honoring Major Dhyan Chand, a legendary hockey player known for his exceptional skills. Born on this day in 1905, Dhyan Chand earned the nickname "The Wizard" because of his amazing talent on the hockey field. His contributions to Indian sports include leading the country to win gold medals in the 1928 and 1932 Olympic Games, making him one of India’s greatest athletes.

The main purpose of National Sports Day is to promote the importance of sports and physical activity. It serves as a reminder of how sports can help us stay fit, learn discipline, and work well with others. Playing sports teaches us important life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and perseverance.

On this day, schools, colleges, and sports organizations across the country organize various events and activities. These can include sports demonstrations, friendly matches, and fitness challenges. These activities are designed to encourage everyone, especially young people, to be active and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

National Sports Day also features motivational talks from famous athletes who share their experiences and inspire others to follow their dreams. Awards are given to outstanding athletes to recognize their hard work and achievements.

Essay on National Sports Day in 500 Words

National Sports Day, observed on August 29th each year, is a special day in India dedicated to celebrating sports and honoring the achievements of Major Dhyan Chand, one of the greatest hockey players in history. Born on this day in 1905, Dhyan Chand’s incredible skills and contributions to the sport of hockey make him a legendary figure. His remarkable performances led India to win gold medals in the 1928 and 1932 Olympic Games, earning him the nickname “The Wizard” of hockey.

The purpose of National Sports Day is to highlight the importance of sports and encourage people to stay active and healthy. Sports are not just about playing games; they teach us important life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. When we participate in sports, we learn how to work well with others, set goals, and overcome challenges. These lessons are valuable in all areas of life, not just in sports.

On National Sports Day, schools, colleges, and sports organizations across the country organize various events and activities. These can include sports demonstrations, friendly matches, and fitness challenges. These events are designed to get everyone involved and promote physical activity. For example, students might participate in running races, soccer games, or basketball tournaments. There are also activities that focus on fun and fitness, such as yoga sessions and dance performances.

In addition to these activities, National Sports Day often features speeches and motivational talks from famous athletes. These athletes share their stories and experiences, inspiring others to pursue their own goals and dreams. Hearing from people who have achieved great things in sports can motivate us to work harder and strive for success.

Awards are also an important part of National Sports Day. Outstanding athletes are recognized for their hard work and achievements. This helps to celebrate their efforts and encourages others to aim for excellence in their own sports activities.

National Sports Day is not just about honoring Major Dhyan Chand’s legacy; it is also about celebrating the joy of sports and the benefits they bring to our lives. Sports help us stay fit and healthy, make new friends, and develop important skills. They also bring people together, creating a sense of community and teamwork.

By participating in the events of National Sports Day, we are reminded of the values that sports teach us. We learn about the importance of hard work, dedication, and fair play. We also get a chance to enjoy the excitement and fun that sports provide. This day encourages us to be active, to appreciate the benefits of physical fitness, and to embrace the positive values that come with playing sports.

Essential Tips for Essay Writing

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'Furious': Veterans slam Trump team's altercation at Arlington National Cemetery

WASHINGTON − Some veterans reacted with alarm to reports of an altercation between a member of Donald Trump's entourage and a top official at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, with a retired Army general calling the incident "repugnant."

Two sources told USA TODAY the incident occurred when a member of Trump's team pushed his way into recording in a part of the cemetery, known as Section 60, where photography is prohibited.

Video from Section 60, where recently buried U.S. service members are interred, later appeared in a Trump campaign Tik Tok in which he criticizes President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, his Democratic rival for the presidency.

"Donald Trump has no right to use our most hallowed ground for his political aims," Fred Wellman, a 22-year Army combat veteran, said Wednesday. "For a lot of us, and I'm not the only one, people are aptly furious."

More: Trump staff in altercation with Arlington Cemetery official

The incident occurred Monday after Trump laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor the 13 Americans slain in a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport three years ago during the chaotic U.S. pullout from Afghanistan.

After laying the wreaths, Trump and members of his team accompanied family members of a slain soldier to his graveside in Section 60, where the cemetery's public affairs director tried to stop them from filming.

Nearly 400,000 people are buried at the cemetery, which is maintained by the U.S. Army. The Trump campaign's insistence on using the setting to shoot campaign material is a "new low," said former Army undersecretary and Pennsylvania Rep. Patrick Murphy.

Wellman said Trump's team should apologize for using the grounds to create a political ad instead of attacking the cemetery official who tried to prevent them from breaking a federal regulation governing photography at the site.

Trump's spokesman said the group had permission to film in Section 60.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said a cemetery official "clearly suffering from a mental health episode, decided to physically block members of President Trump's team."Arlington National Cemetery confirmed that "an incident took place" over photography inside Section 60. No charges have been filed, a police official told USA TODAY.

The campaign's response − attacking the mental health of a respected cemetery official − only prompted further backlash from veterans and veterans' groups.

Thoughts on the Trump team assaulting Arlington National Cemetery staff yesterday for a photo op. pic.twitter.com/O7Chz1fshP — Veterans For Responsible Leadership (@VetsForRL) August 28, 2024

Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Paul Eaton, a senior adviser at the progressive political action committee VoteVets, called the campaign's actions at the cemetery "nauseating."

Eaton, whose father is buried in Section 60, noted previous reports, repeatedly denied by Trump, that the former president had referred to World War I dead as "suckers" and "losers."

"They see no issue bringing partisan politics there, even if it means getting into physical altercations with cemetery staff.," Eaton said in a statement to USA TODAY. "I truly cannot think of something more repugnant than starting a political fracas on land where Gold Star families mourn. Someone who would do that should never be Commander in Chief.”

Relatives of some of the service members who died in the bombing invited Trump to the wreath-laying ceremony Monday. They released a statement thanking and defending the former president Tuesday.

“We are deeply grateful to the president for taking the time to honor our children and for standing alongside us in our grief,” they wrote.

Wellman said Trump's desire to honor the fallen still had to conform with the law. "There's an actual federal law on the books saying it cannot be used political purposes," he told USA TODAY. "The families put out a statement saying, 'Oh no, we authorized it.' They don't get that right. The families don't get the right to make decisions for the other people buried there."

Trump has long claimed to be an ally to veterans but different comments have landed him in hot water with members of the military community over the years. Earlier this month, he angered veterans when he said the civilian Presidential Medal of Freedom is "much better" than the military Medal of Honor because recipients of the latter are often badly wounded or dead.

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VFW Crowns 2023 National Youth Scholarship Winners

Tennessee high school sophomore takes home first place $35,000 scholarship.

WASHINGTON – Tonight, during the 76th annual Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Parade of Winners ceremony, the organization proudly presented more than $171,000 in scholarships and awards as it named the national winners of its 2023 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen youth scholarship competitions.

Sponsored by Twisted X, the Parade of Winners event featured the 53 national VFW Department (state) winners, along with Twisted X CEO and president, Prasad Reddy.

Second place winner Siri Corson, a junior at Fillmore Central High School in Harmony, Minnesota, sponsored by VFW Post 6893 and its Auxiliary in Preston, Minnesota, was awarded the $21,000 Charles Kuralt Memorial Scholarship. Gina Wierzbowski, a senior at Mystic Valley Regional Charter School in Malden, Massachusetts, sponsored by VFW Post 620 located in Stoneham, Massachusetts, was named the third place winner and awarded the $15,000 VFW Scholarship. All other state winners received at least a $1,000 college scholarship. See the complete list of 2023 Voice of Democracy national winners .

Also featured during tonight’s awards ceremony was the 2023 Patriot’s Pen first place winner, Leighton Peters. Sponsored by VFW Post 2204 and its Auxiliary in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Peters was awarded the top Patriot’s Pen prize of $5,000. Watch as she delivered her winning essay  during this evening's ceremony on this year’s theme, “My Pledge to Our Veterans.”

The Patriot’s Pen second place winner, Nolan Green, sponsored by VFW Post 8731 in Monticello, Minnesota, will receive a $4,000 award, while third place winner Makayla Cole, sponsored by VFW Post 5675 and its Auxiliary in Odessa, Missouri, will receive a $3,500 award. See the complete list of 2023 Patriot’s Pen national winners .

Learn more about the VFW Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen programs here .

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Arlington National Cemetery officials confirm an 'incident' during Trump's visit

Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday confirmed an incident took place when former President Donald Trump visited there Monday to commemorate the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate attacks in Afghanistan.

"We can confirm there was an incident, and a report was filed," the statement read.

“Federal law prohibits political campaign or election-related activities within Army National Military Cemeteries, to include photographers, content creators or any other persons attending for purposes, or in direct support of a partisan political candidate’s campaign,” said the cemetery in the Virginia suburbs of Washington. “Arlington National Cemetery reinforced and widely shared this law and its prohibitions with all participants.”

Trump participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Monday, marking the third anniversary of the deaths of 13 U.S. service members in an attack by the Islamic State outside the Kabul airport in Afghanistan. More than 150 Afghans were also killed. Parents of fallen service members have expressed anger at President Joe Biden's administration for a lack of answers surrounding the attack.

After the ceremony, Trump headed to Section 60 of the cemetery, where some service members killed in Afghanistan and Iraq are buried and recording is typically heavily restricted.

NPR first reported Tuesday that two Trump campaign staffers had a confrontation with a cemetery official who tried to prevent them from filming.

Trump communications director Steven Cheung denied some of the details of the report and said the campaign was willing to release footage to support its claim.

“There was no physical altercation as described and we are prepared to release footage if such defamatory claims are made,” Cheung said in a statement. “The fact is that a private photographer was permitted on the premises and for whatever reason an unnamed individual, clearly suffering from a mental health episode, decided to physically block members of President Trump’s team during a very solemn ceremony.”

Cheung followed up in a statement on X , saying Trump was allowed to have a photographer there.

Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita posted a video on x that showed Trump laying flowers at a gravesite.

In a statement, he said a “despicable individual” physically prevented Trump’s team from accompanying him to the event.

“For a despicable individual to physically prevent President Trump’s team from accompanying him to this solemn event is a disgrace and does not deserve to represent the hollowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery,” LaCivita said. "Whoever this individual is spreading these lies are dishonoring the men and women of our armed forces, and they are disrespecting everyone who paid the price for defending our country.”

LaCivita claimed that Trump was at Section 60 at the invitation of Abbey Gate Gold Star families “to honor their loved ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.”

In an interview with NBC News on Wednesday, LaCivita claimed that a "nameless bureaucrat at Arlington whose job it is to preserve the dignity of the cemetery is doing the complete opposite in trying to make what was a very solemn and respectful event into something it was not."

Trump generated controversy this month when said this month that the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a civilian award, was "better" than the top military award, the Medal of Honor, because those who receive the latter are often dead or injured.

Trump has previously faced scrutiny over a 2020 report in The Atlantic, which former White House chief of staff John Kelly later confirmed , that he made disparaging remarks about fallen soldiers, calling them "suckers" and "losers." Trump has denied the allegation .

Courtney Kube is a correspondent covering national security and the military for the NBC News Investigative Unit.

Jake Traylor is a 2024 NBC News campaign embed.

Raquel Coronell Uribe is a breaking news reporter. 

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Guest Essay

Trump Can Win on Character

By Rich Lowry

Mr. Lowry is the editor in chief of National Review.

With the defenestration of President Biden and the ascent of Kamala Harris, conventional wisdom has gone from asking, “How can Donald Trump lose?” to “How can he win?”

It’s basically a tossup race, but a successful Harris rollout and convention, coupled with a stumbling Trump performance since Mr. Biden’s exit, have created a sense of irresistible Harris momentum.

As usual when he falters, Mr. Trump is getting a lot of advice from his own side.

For as long as Mr. Trump has been in the ascendancy in the G.O.P., he will go off on some pointless tangent, and Republicans will urge him — perhaps as they hustle down a corridor of the U.S. Capitol — to talk about the economy instead of his controversy du jour.

A close cousin of this perpetual advice is the admonition that Mr. Trump should concentrate more on the issues in this campaign. Neither recommendation is wrong, but they are insufficient to make the case against Kamala Harris.

Presidential races are won and lost on character as much as the issues, and often the issues are proxies for character. Not character in the sense of a candidate’s personal life but the attributes that play into the question of whether someone is suited to the presidency — is he or she qualified, trustworthy and strong, and does he or she care about average Americans?

Presidential races, in this sense, are deeply personal; they usually involve disqualifying the opposing candidate, rather than convincing voters that his or her platform is wrongheaded.

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