The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States has been conducting the Voice of Democracy Contest since its start back in 1947. The contest provides more than $2.5 million annually in awards and scholarships.

The Voice of Democracy Contest is in two parts. The Patriot's Pen Youth Essay Writing Contest is open to 7th and 8th grade students. The top 24 national winners receive at least a $1,000 savings bond with the first place award currently being a $10,000 savings bond.

The Voice of Democracy Patriotic Audio Essay Competition is open to students in 9-12th grade students who participate worldwide in each of the VFW's 54 departments. Those 54 department winners all receive a trip to Washington D.C. for a tour of historic landmarks in the nation's capitol. While there, they compete for $143,500 in national scholarships including a $25,000 first prize.

This year's theme for both contests was "My Pledge to America." The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Private Adolph Block #1305 in Mineola was proud to announce that Maria Massa from Mineola Middle School is the post's winner of the Patriot's Pen Youth Essay Writing Contest and that Matthew Russo from Mineola High School is their winner of the Voice of Democracy Patriotic Audio Essay Competition.

Printed are the two winning essays: