DEADLINE FOR VOICE OF DEMOCRACY CONTEST NEARS

High school students in the Cape Girardeau area may enter the 52nd annual audio essay contest, Voice of Democracy, sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Ladies Auxiliary.

VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau has distributed entry packets to high school speech and English teachers. The deadline is Nov. 1. Students should have final entries turned in to their schools by Oct. 30.

Interested students need to write and tape record a three to five minute audio essay expressing their view of the patriotic theme, "My Service to America."

Participants may win scholarships at the club, district, state and national levels. State winners receive at least a $1,000 scholarship and a five-day trip to Washington D.C. where the $20,000 first place national winner is announced.

The Voice of Democracy program began in 1946, originally sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters. The VFW took over sponsorship in 1961. Over 7 million high school students have participated, including notable winners Charles Kuralt, Mariette Hartley, Anita Bryant and Sen. John Ashcroft.

Wanda Blankenship, Post 3838 VFW Auxiliary president, said "Entering the competition helps develop increased self-confidence and poise, polishes communication skills and allows students to express their feelings about living in a democracy."

Interested students should request entry forms from their respective high schools. Most area VFW organizations sponsor local competitions.