Middle School Essay

The Middle School Essay program is open to all accredited Middle School Students at participating schools, Public, Private, or Parochial within the sponsoring jurisdiction of established American Legion Posts in the Department of Virginia. Home-schooled children are eligible to compete provided the Division Superintendent, his/her assistant, or other designated person of the public school system certifies on the attached Declaration Form, the student’s grade level and their adherence to contest rules. It shall be the responsibility of the home schooler’s parents to contact the sponsoring American Legion Post and have the above certifications completed.

The essay MUST start with the phrase: “I like living in America because…" Each essay is to be handwritten on the front side of one 8 1/2” X 11” page of lined notebook paper and is to be written at their desk in school (during structured class time if home-schooled), not at home. Typed or computer-generated essays will be allowed for students with disabilities meeting the following requirements:

• The digital essay must be under 160 words.
• The teacher of the student must certify that the essay received was the work of the student author.
• The essay is to be written by the competing Middle School Student.

All papers should be returned to the Post by December 15, 2025. For complete rules and regualtions please see the following link:

2025 - 2026 Middle School Essay