Jacob Gehly Wins Prize in VFW Patriot's Pen Contest

2015 Jan 23

Jacob Gehly of Front Royal has won second place at the post level in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Patriot's Pen Essay Contest for the 2014-15 school year. Jacob is a seventh grade student at Randolph-Macon Academy in Front Royal, and the son of Art and Mary Gehly of Front Royal.

Randolph-Macon Academy Middle School students won the top three prizes in the post-level competition, which was sponsored by Front Royal VFW Post 1860. Jacob's second place award included a certificate and a $50 prize. The theme for this year's essay was "Why I Appreciate America's Veterans."

The Patriot's Pen contest is open to all students in grades 6-8 enrolled in a public, private, or parochial school or homeschooling program in the U.S. and its territories. Winners at the post level go on to compete at the district level. Those winners go on to compete at the state level, and state winners go on to compete at the national level, vying for the grand prize of $5,000 or one of the other 45 prizes awarded. Over 100,000 students compete in the contest each year.