Voice of Democracy 2024-2025

VFW National Headquarters announces the Voice of Democracy 2024-2024 Theme "Is America Today Our Forefathers' Vision?"  

Student Entry Deadline:  October 31, 2024

Patriotic Audio Essay Competition Grand Prize: $35,000 Award

VFW Announces Kick-Off of Annual $35,000 Scholarship Competition 

Fowlerville, MI. July 1, 2024 – Commander William (Butch) Ogden of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. Curtis-Session, Swartz-White Post 6464, Fowlerville announced the kick-off of this year’s VFW Voice of Democracy Scholarship competition. Local high school students have the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and a trip to Washington, D.C.

 

Students must write and record a three-to-five-minute essay on the selected theme using a flash drive MP3 format and present their recording, typed essay and completed entry form to their local VFW Post by October 31. The 2024-2025 theme selected is "Is America Today Our Forefather’s Vision?” Students begin by competing at the local Post level, then Post winners compete at the District level with the winner advancing to the State Competition. 

All state first-place winners receive a four-day trip to Washington, D.C., and the chance to compete for their share of more than $171,000 in scholarships. The first-place winner receives a $35,000 college scholarship. 

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) started the Voice of Democracy Scholarship program in 1947. The VFW became a national sponsor in the late 1950s and assumed sole responsibility for the program in 1961. The competition was created to provide students grades 9-12 the opportunity to express themselves in regard to democratic ideas and principles. 

Around 40,000 students participate in the competition each year and VFW awards more than $2.1 million in educational scholarships every year. 

Interested students and teachers should contact the Voice of Democracy Chairman at VFW Post 6464:  VFW Post Chairman George Wygant, 517-515-0471, george.wygant@yahoo.com, Auxiliary Chairman,  Carol Johnson, 517-712-4574, agsm06@gmail.com or email the Post at vfwpost6464@gmail.com for more information.

                                                                                                     

 

FOR DETAILS VISIT: www.vfw6464.org.

VOD Application 

Voice of Democracy 2023-2024

Patriotic Audio Essay Competition VFW Post 6464 Winner

Fowlerville High School

Fowlerville, Michigan

 

"What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?”

By

Morgan R. Thomas

The legendary men that laid the foundation for this country set Americans up fora bright future. However, is not easy to be an American. Why would we want it that way? Our citizens must be present, be critical, big thinkers, and continue a long-standing tradition of that which is America. It is the hard work that Americans put in that brings out the best attributes of our democracy. Our foundation was set forth for us by those who dared to dream big. Why would we not also choose to do so in their honor?

The freedoms that we have as Americans are one of our greatest attributes. Many of these freedoms were protected by the founding fathers in the Bill of Rights, a document that continues to protect those same vital freedoms today. The First Amendment protects the freedom of religion, which so many early settlers came to America to have. The right to believe in the god that you are called to believe in and the protection against the government ever establishing a national religion allows people to practice their religion in ways that are generationally imbedded into their lives and families. Freedom of speech is also protected in the First Amendment. Can you imagine a world where everyone looked the same? Where everyone has the same haircut, clothes, house, phone case or shoes? Our freedom of speech guarantees not just the freedom of speech, it also includes expression. It is what allows us to be different, but to still be American.

Hard work is another attribute of American democracy. American democracy has been described by some as advanced citizenship. You can't just sit back and watch our democracy. You must participate. How people engage with our democracy can look vastly different, however everyone is capable of contributing. For some brave Americans, military service is how they are called to participate in American Democracy. Our servicemen and women work hard every day to help keep America and its citizens safe. Others work hard trying to attain their American Dreams. Having jobs, families, homes, and responsibilities are all part of adulthood in America. I am sure we can agree that all of those are also hard work. Americans work hard at their jobs every day and then come home to keep working hard for their families. Why do you ask? Because in America the liberties that allow us to choose where we live and what kind of careers we have foster hard work. Children learn from their parents and therefore the value of working hard has been passed down from generation to generation.

Finally, patriotism is an important attribute of our American Democracy. Patriotism can look vastly different in this country. However, it is this attribute that holds everything else together. Patriotism can look like one of America's citizens serving in the military. It can also look like citizens gathering at the US Supreme Court building to peacefully protest a court case they didn't agree with. It can also look like citizens going to vote on election day or singing the national anthem at their hometown football game or the Super Bowl. As I said before, freedom of speech is an important attribute of this country and that combined with patriotism can be a powerful thing. That is why patriotism is so important. It is the backbone of every attribute in this country, and you can combine any attribute with a tiny amount of patriotism and see a huge impact. But, when you combine generationally celebrated patriotism with all of America's democratic attributes you create an unstoppable force that has propelled this country forward for its entire existence.

The freedoms that are protected in the Bill of Rights, hard work, and patriotism are the greatest attributes of America. They are intertwined and have been fostered as part of American culture for generations. The examples set forth by our founding fathers combined with the rich history of our country have solidified these attributes and will inspire Americans for future generations to carry the torch of American democracy toward our bright future.