The VFW Department of N.H. is pleased to announce that Anna Elise Pope, a 7th-grade student, is the first-place winner of the state VFW’s 2021-22 Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest.
Anna Elise, who was sponsored by VFW Post 1631 and its Auxiliary in Concord, wrote her winning essay based on this year’s theme, “How Can I Be A Good American.”
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. The contest is a worldwide competition that gives students in grades 6, 7 and 8 the opportunity to write a 300- to 400-word theme-based essay expressing their views on democracy while competing for worthwhile awards and prizes. Over 750 New Hampshire students participated in the competition this year.
As one of 53 finalists worldwide, Anna Elise will compete at the national level for individual awards ranging from $500 to $5,000.