WINSLOW — The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8835 recently announced the kick off of its Ladies Auxiliary Patriots Pen Essay Competition. Local middle-school students in grades 6-8 will have the opportunity to compete.

Students will compete at the local Post level, then advance to District, then District winners will advance to the state competition.

Students must write a 300-400-word essay on a patriotic theme. This year’s theme is “What I would tell America’s Founding Fathers.”

Deadline for entries is Thursday, Nov. 1. Interested student or teachers should call the VFW Post 8835 at 873-1908 or mail the submission to 175 Veteran Drive, Winslow, ME, 04901.