AUBURN — Chairman Donald W. Linscott Jr. of the Auburn Veterans of Foreign Wars has announced the annual VFW Patriots Pen competition. Students in grades six, seven and eight in the Auburn area will have the chance to win a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a trip to Washington, D.C.

Students compete by writing a 300- to 400-word essay, based on this year’s theme, “Does Patriotism Still Matter.”

The Post winner will win $100 and advance to the District 9 competition and will compete against winners from the Lewiston, Lisbon, Monmouth, Jay, South Paris and Rumford VFWs. The district winner will advance to the state competition and compete against the other 11 districts in Maine.

The State VFW winner will participate in a four-day tour of Washington, D.C., along with the winners from every state, the Pacific Areas, Latin America/Caribbean and Europe. Any of these winners will have the chance to win bonds worth up to $10,000.

Interested parents or students may contact Linscott at 782-6873 or call the VFW Post 1603 at 783-2561, from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Students should leave name, address and telephone number and they will receive a brochure, an application and last year’s winning essay in the mail.

All entrants will have the availability of the VFW’s computer. Applications are also available at the Auburn Middle School. All essays and applications must be in the chairman’s hands by Nov. 1.