The 2026-27 Patriot's Pen Theme has been announced. "WHAT A VETERAN TAUGHT ME ABOUT AMERICA" https://vfwmi.org/uploads/Documents/2026-2027PatriotsPenProgramrevised6.29.26.pdf https://vfwmi.org/uploads/Documents/2026-27PatriotsPenBrochure.pdf https://vfwmi.org/uploads/Documents/2026-2027Patriot'sPenStudentEntryForm.pdf https://vfwmi.org/uploads/Documents/2026-27STUDENTBIOGRAPHICALQUESTIONAIRE.pdf https://vfwmi.org/uploads/Documents/2026-2027Parentandschoolreleaseform.pdf
Each year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen Youth Essay Contest nationally, for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards. 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 2025 - 2026 State of Michigan Patriot Pen Program judging was completed in December. On January 31, 2026 the State winner was announced at the State Mid-Winter Conference award banquet honoring this year's three Teachers of the Year and the VOD State winner and the Patriot Pen State winner.
And the 2025-26 Patriot Pen State winner is:
Brandon Darnell, representing District 11, sponsored by VFW Post 5738, Clare
Brandon will received the $1,000 Wes Longenbach Memorial Award. Brandon will now complete in the National competition against 51 other Department winners for the VFW National award of $5,000.
