YOUTH ESSAY

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VFW Post 7824 · Youth & Education

Washington State Youth Essay

2026–2027 writing program for Washington students in grades 3, 4, and 5.

Free to enter — no cost to entrants

Young writers can explore citizenship, history, and the people who helped shape the United States.

Who may enter
Washington students in grades 3–5, including homeschooled students
Essay length
250 words or fewer
Local deadline
Entry fee
$0 — participation is free

2026–2027 Theme

"What I Would Say to a Founding Father or Founding Mother”

Imagine you could speak with someone who helped shape the founding of the United States. What would you want that person to know about America today, and what ideas would you want to share in your own words?

Official Entry Form & Rules (PDF) Ask Post 7824 About Youth Essay

Who Can Participate?

Any student in grades 3, 4, or 5 from a school in Washington state may participate through a local VFW Post or Auxiliary. Homeschooled students are also eligible.

Participation is voluntary, and students do not have to enter through their school.

There is no cost to entrants.

A Useful Writing Activity

The program gives younger students an opportunity to organize ideas, develop a theme, write for a real audience, and revise a final essay. Teachers and families may use the prompt as a classroom, enrichment, or independent writing activity.

Essay Checklist

  • Compose your own essay.
  • Write no more than 250 words.
  • The essay may be clearly handwritten, typed, or computer prepared.
  • Stay within the official theme.
  • Do not add color or artwork.
  • Do not submit the essay in poem form.
  • Do not place the student’s name, city, or school on the essay; that information belongs on the entry form.
  • Include the official entry form and required parent or guardian signature.
  • Keep a copy. Submitted essays become property of the VFW Department of Washington.

How to Enter Through Post 7824

  1. Download the official form. Read both pages before preparing the final entry.
  2. Write the essay. Follow the 250-word limit and all Department rules.
  3. Complete the student and family sections. The Post or Auxiliary completes the sponsoring-organization section.
  4. Contact Post 7824. Email youth@vfw7824.org to arrange delivery.
  5. Meet the deadline. The essay and entry form must reach the sponsoring Post or Auxiliary by .

Late entries are not accepted under the Department rules.

How Essays Are Judged

The current official entry form identifies these judging areas:

  • Addressing the theme: up to 30 points
  • Clarity of ideas: up to 30 points
  • Theme development: up to 40 points

Department scoring note: The separate Department score sheet also includes spelling and grammar for up to 10 additional points. Judges should use the current Department score sheet when scoring entries.

View Department Score Sheet (PDF)

2026–2027 Advancement Timeline

Grades are judged separately throughout the Washington Youth Essay program.

Entries are due to the sponsoring local VFW Post or Auxiliary.
Post and Auxiliary winners are forwarded to District. One winner may advance for every 15 entries judged in each grade.
District winners are due to the VFW Department of Washington.

Contact VFW Post 7824 Youth Activities

Need the official form, have a question about eligibility, or need to arrange delivery? Contact the Post 7824 Youth Activities team.

VFW Post 7824 — Youth Activities
400 N. Andresen Road
Vancouver, WA 98661
Email: youth@vfw7824.org

Participation is free. There is no cost to entrants.

Email Youth Activities Directions to Post 7824

Official program sources: VFW Department of Washington Youth Essays, 2026–2027 Youth Essay Entry Form and Rules, and Department Youth Essay Score Sheet.

Page revision 1.1.0 · Updated September 21, 2026