FAQ's

Subscription dues are just like a magazine subscription. It gives you 365 days of membership in the VFW. With this being the first year that they are coming into effect it will be a process that we are not use to. The basic breakdown of what is going to happen is:

If you are an annual member and you pay your dues before Jan your expiration will be Jan 2026. If you pay after that date whatever day your dues are processed at National will be the new expiration date. Example would be that you send in your dues to National on 1 Feb 2026  and National processed them on the 15 Feb. Your new expiration date would be 15 Feb 2027.

The VFW annual membership fee is  $45 per year for a Member-At-Large, though some local posts may have different fees. This fee covers your membership for the calendar year and includes a subscription to the VFW magazine. Members can also opt for a one-time life membership, which varies in price by age.  

• Annual Membership: The standard annual fee is $45. Some local posts may charge a different amount.
• Life Membership: This is a one-time payment that eliminates future annual dues. The cost depends on your age, with younger members paying more upfront than older members.
• Installment Plan: You can pay for a life membership through an installment plan, which requires an initial payment of $45 and 11 monthly installments.
• VFW Auxiliary: The annual fee for the VFW Auxiliary is different. For example, one post lists the first year at $35 and subsequent years at $30. 

The VFW Voice of Democracy 2025 program is accepting entries for the 2025-2026 competition with the theme "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?”. High school students in grades 9-12 can compete for a $35,000 national first-place scholarship by submitting an audio essay to a local VFW Post by October 31, 2025. 

About the competition

• Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12.
• Theme: "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?".
• Entry requirements: An audio essay on the theme, a completed 2025-2026 entry form, and submission to a local VFW Post.
• Submission deadline: Entries must be submitted to the local VFW Post by midnight on October 31, 2025.
• Prizes: The national first-place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship, and other national awards range from $1,000 to $21,000. Every state (Department) winner receives a minimum of a $1,000 scholarship. 

The VFW Patriot's Pen for the 2025-2026 school year has the theme, "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?". Students in grades 6-8 must submit a 300-400 word essay to a local VFW Post by the midnight deadline of October 31, 2025.  

Contest details

• Theme: "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?" 
• Eligibility: Students in grades 6, 7, or 8 enrolled in public, private, parochial, or home-schooled programs in the U.S. 
• Essay length: 300–400 words 
• Deadline: Midnight, October 31, 2025 
• Submission: Entries must be submitted to a local, sponsoring VFW Post 

How to enter

1. Write your essay: 

Draft a 300-400 word essay on the 2025-2026 theme. Ensure your essay is your original work, as the use of AI like ChatGPT is not allowed. 

2. Complete the entry form: 

Download and fill out the official Patriot's Pen entry form. 

3. Do not include personal information in the essay: 

Avoid putting any personal identifiers like your name or school in the essay itself, as it will be covered by the entry form. 

4. Submit by the deadline: 

Attach the entry form to your essay and submit it to a local VFW Post by October 31, 2025.