FAQS

FAQ's

What are subscription dues and how do they work?

Subscription dues are just like a magazine subscription. It gives you 365 days of membership in the VFW. With this being the first year that they are coming into effect it will be a process that we are not use to. The basic breakdown of what is going to happen is:

If you are an annual member and you pay your dues before January your expiration will be in January. If you pay after that date whatever day your dues are processed at National will be the new expiration date. For example, if you send in your dues to National on the 1st February and National processes them on the 15th of February, your new expiration date would be the 15th of February.

How much are Membership Dues & When are they due?

Annual membership Dues $45 and due on the anniversary of the date you joined the VFW or the date of annual renewal.

Student Vet's Annual membership is $20.

What is the Voice of Democracy theme for 2024/25?

Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy scholarship program is audio-essay competition open to high school students in 9th through 12th grades, with the national first place prize scholarship totaling $35,000 and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (State) being awarded a scholarship of at least $1,000. The first place Department (State) winners receive a special Parade of Winners trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Twisted X, where they compete for more than $170,000 in national scholarship awards. Nearly 22,000 high school students worldwide compete in the competition each year.

The 2024-25 theme is:

Is America Today our Forefathers' Vision?

Before submitting your essay, download the 2024-2025 entry form here and find your sponsoring local VFW Post here.

Virginia is beginning implementation of VFW's new scholarship management system, Scholar’s App. This is an online platform that is intended to not only streamline the application submission and judging processes for the scholarship program, but it will also expose the students to a wide range of scholarship opportunities once they create an account on the system. Please go to our ScholarsApp page for more information on the new system here.

While we encourage the use of the new system for applicants, the traditional method of paper and electronic submission of applications will still be accepted at the local Posts this year.

Applications/Essays are due to your local VFW Post by 31 October!

JUDGING CRITERIA

Originality - 30 points: Treatment of the theme should show imagination and human interest

Content - 35 points: Clearly express your ideas in an organized manner. Fully develop your theme and use transitions to move smoothly from one idea to the other.

Delivery - 35 points: Speak in a clear and credible manner.

What is the Patriots Pen theme for 2024/25?

The Patriots Pen scholarship program in an essay competition open to students in 6th through 8th grades who are enrolled in public, private, parochial schools, or home study programs in the United States and its territories. The national first place prize scholarship totaling $5,000 and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (State) being awarded a scholarship of at least $500.

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

Before submitting your essay, download the 2024-2025 entry form here.

Virginia is beginning implementation of VFW's new scholarship management system, Scholar’s App. This is an online platform that is intended to not only streamline the application submission and judging processes for the scholarship program, but it will also expose the students to a wide range of scholarship opportunities once they create an account on the system. Please go to our ScholarsApp page for more information on the new system here.

While we encourage the use of the new system for applicants, the traditional method of paper and electronic submission of applications will still be accepted at the local Posts this year.

Applications/Essays are due to your local VFW Post by 31 October!

JUDGING CRITERIA:

Knowledge of the theme - 30 points: You must show a thorough knowledge of the theme in your work. Demonstrate you have researched the issue extensively.

Theme development - 35 points: Answer all relevant facts about the theme such as the who, what, where, when, and why. Relate the theme to your own experiences.

Clarity of ideas - 35 points: Write your essay in an easy-to-understand format. Leave your reader with a clear understanding of your explanation of the theme.