Voice Of Democracy / Youth Essay

The Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay Contest was started in 1946, sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters and cosponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Initially there were four winners and each received a $500 savings bond.

In 1960 the National Association of Broadcasters wished to end the program because of costs. The Veterans of Foreign Wars and their Ladies Auxiliary became the sole sponsors and have expanded the program with cooperation from teachers across the nation. With a scholarship fund of $27,000 in 1960 the competition has grown to 54 scholarships totaling in excess of $132,000 this year at the National level and $2.6 million at Post, District and Department levels. Such luminaries as the late Charles Kuralt, Senator John Ashcroft, Anita Bryant and Mariette Hartley are past National Winners.

In 1991 a National Youth Essay competition was started, in which the 7th through 9th grades competed for a national award of $5,000. This top prize is increased this year to $10,000.

In 1974, VFW Post 4987 started its own local Youth essay competition for 5th and 6th grades in Bethpage schools. The winners that first year were taken on an all day bus trip to Valley Forge, Pa. to see the winter encampment of General Washington and his troops. In today's Local Youth Essay competition, we have 21 winners (1st, 3nd, and 4rd places) from 5th and 6th grades in six schools.

The original Voice of Democracy competition was open only to students in 9th through 12th grades. With the addition of the National and Local Youth Essay Contests, students in 5th through 12th grades are now eliigible to compete. In Bethpage alone, competitions are now held in all five Public Schools in the Bethpage school district, one in Plainedge Public School district and LaSalle Regional School. In this VFW Year 1999-2000, Grace Day School from Massapequa also took part in the Bethpage competition, for a total of eight schools.

Each of (this year's) 38 winners receives a ribbon necklace with a Voice of Democracy Pin, a Certificate of Merit, and a monetary award from Butehorn Brothers Post 4987, as well as awards from the New York State Senate, New York State Legislature, the Nassau County Executive, Nassau County Comptroller, Nassau County Legislature, and Town of Oyster Bay - each awarded by the appropriate elected official.

Each of the 519 student who participates is given a small Certificate of Appreciation, and each participating school is also given a Certificate of Appreciation, and the school hosting the annual Awards Ceremony is also given a special plaque.

Each First Place winner from each of the 5th grades (local Youth Essay contest) reads his or her essays just before the close of the Awards Night program.

The names of winning students in the Voice of Democracy contest and the National Youth Essay contest are forwarded to the next level of command in the VFW (Nassau County Council and First District) for further judging. The winners at those levels then advance to the State level, and thence to the National level.

All entries are required to be submitted by no later than November 15. They are judged, Judging in the Local Youth Essay Program (5th & 6th grades) is done by the Post members on a regular meeting night. For the National Competitions the judging is done by a retired teacher, long an active member of the community who has served in all local offices of the Bethpage-Plainview Lions Club and as Regional Governor, Lions Club International.

Teachers, Administrators and Principals have been very supportive of these VFW programs.

Officers and members of Butehorn Brothers Post 4987, in full parade uniform, start the Awards Ceremony as though it were a special VFW Post meeting. The Color Guard posts the colors, everyone joins in the salute to the flag, Pledge of Allegiance, and opening prayers. After the presentation of awards, the program is closed with prayers for sick and departed VFW members, for POW/MIAs and service members in all foreign lands, and the Color Guard then retires the colors.

The Post photogapher takes photos of each winneer and these pictures are published in the local newspaper as soon as possible after Awards Night. In addition, the official government photographers usually take photos of the winning students with the honored guests, and those photos are made available to the winners through Post 4987.

At the end of the evening. light refreshments are served by the wives of Post members, and there is an opportunity for family and friends to take their own photographs and/or videotapes.

Bertram E. Carlson, Past Post Commander
Chairman- Voice of Democracy