Creswell VFW participating in scholarship program

Creswell Post and Auxiliary 4039 is participating in the National VFW scholarship programs, “Voice of Democracy” (VOD) and “Patriot’s Pen.”
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) started the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition in 1947. The VFW became a national sponsor in the late 1950s and assumed sole responsibility for the program in 1961.
The Voice of Democracy competition provides high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors the opportunity to write and record an essay on a patriotic theme, competing for more than $2.1 million in college scholarships.
This year the VOD theme is “Why My Vote Matters.”
Patriot’s Pen provides 6th-, 7th- and 8th- grade students the opportunity to express their opinion on a patriotic theme and improve their writing skills. The theme for this year’s Patriot’s Pen is “Why I Honor the American Flag.” The first-place national winner receives a $5,000 award and an all- expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C., where they tour the city.
Winners for both contests also receive prizes at the Post and State levels.
Oregon’s 2018 V.O.D. representative, Philip Dunagan from Mosier, Ore., placed second in the National Contest and was awarded the $16,000 Charles Kuralt Memorial Scholarship.
Entries for this scholarship program must be received by Post 4039 no later than Oct. 31, 2018. Please contact Bob Beck, post commander, for information at 541-255-5105.
The VFW post has also been active in other local activities, including distributing over 200 pairs of new socks and used clothing at the recent Veterans Stand-down event.
The VFW also runs the Safety Coffee Wagon at the freeway rest stop south of Creswell, and have community bingo at the Post, 111 S. 10th St., at 6:30 p.m. on the second Friday each month.
On Nov. 11 the VFW will conduct an 11 a.m. Veterans Day service at the memorial beside the fire station.