Post 1336 kicks off Patriot’s Pen contest

St. Juvin Post 1336 Veterans of Foreign Wars, in partnership with the Coal City Middle School and the Coal City Public Library District, is sponsoring the Patriot's Pen essay competition.
The contest is open to all middle school students, as well as home schooled students who reside within the school district’s boundary who are between the ages of 11 and 13.
St. Juvin Post commander Charlie Brown said, “This annual VFW-sponsored youth essay competition gives students an opportunity to write a 300 to 400 word essay expressing their views on a patriotic theme.  This year's theme is ‘Why I Honor the American Flag.’”
“The Post invites your child to join the 120,000 students that participated nationally last year.  The National Association of Secondary School Principals has again approved this contest for its National Advisory List of Contests and Activities.  Post members hope that parents will encourage their students to participate in this event,” Brown continued.
Nationally there is over $54,000 in awards, locally St. Juvin Post will provide each participating student a memento gift, and one essay for each 15 entries will be forwarded for the Illinois VFW District 18 competition.
Those students whose essays are selected to go on to District 18 completion will receive a  gift card and a Patriot's Pen backpack plus an invitation for the student and parent(s) to attend a complimentary pizza party recognition to be held at the Stone City VFW Post in Joliet on Jan. 5, 2019.
Entry forms, instructions and detailed information on this program will be available after Sept. 3 at the middle school office, or, at the parent's option, for home schooled students at the Coal City Public Library District Teen Department. Completed essays can be dropped off at either location no later than October 31.  
Entries are judged without the selection committee knowing the grade, attendance status, or name of the student.