High Valley VFW Post 4060 of Union announces local winners of National Youth Essay Competitions

By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Monday, February 9th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

UNION – (Release from High Valley VFW Post 4060) High Valley VFW Post 4060 is proud to announce the local winners of the 2025-2026 Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen youth essay competitions. These prestigious programs, established by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, invite students to examine America’s history and their own experiences in modern society through the lens of patriotism.

This year’s theme for both programs was: “How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?”

“We are consistently blown away by the depth of thought and the sincerity our local students bring to these essays,” said post member Brian Blais. “At a time when the world feels complex, hearing these young people articulate their commitment to our country is incredibly heartening.”

Voice of Democracy (Grades 9-12)

Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves regarding democratic and patriotic themes. Nationally, the program awards more than $1.4 million in educational scholarships.

1st Place: Tivian Tripple
2nd Place: Maylie Eby
3rd Place: Amelia Koza

Patriot’s Pen (Grades 6-8)

The Patriot’s Pen program encourages middle schoolers to examine their views on American history and society. Each year, more than 60,000 students enter for a chance to win their share of nearly $1 million in state and national awards.

1st Place: Mahrlee Sauer
2nd Place: Rita Ireland
3rd Place: Evelyn Cox

The first-place winners from High Valley Post 4060 will now advance to the District level, with the potential to move on to State and National competitions. The national first-place Voice of Democracy winner receives a $35,000 scholarship, while the national Patriot’s Pen winner receives $5,000.

Last year’s national Patriot’s Pen winner, Evelyn Newbigging of South Carolina, set a high bar for excellence, and Post 4060 is confident that our local representatives will carry that same spirit of excellence forward.

About the VFW: The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is the nation’s largest and oldest major war veterans organization. Founded in 1899, the congressionally chartered VFW is comprised entirely of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces.