patriot's pen 2021 winning essay

PATRIOT PEN

2023-2024 Patriot's Pen Essay Theme "How are you inspired by America" Each year more than 165,400 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards. Each 1st place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000!  The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Want to apply?  2023-2024 Patriots Pen Announcement Letter Click Here 2023-2024 Patriots Pen entry form Click here Score sheet for judging can be found here .    NOTE : PA has due dates different than those publicized by National VFW!        October 31, 2023-Student deadline Entry is midnight.        November 18, 2023 -Post judging completed.        December 3, 2023    District judging completed.        December 9, 2023   District Winner entry form, flash drive of essay, typed essay, head and shoulder photo of good quality, District summary report and District participation report must be sent to Department Chairman:    Pennsylvania VFW Patriot's Pen Chairman William (Bill) Lamond VFW Post 5207 (10) 3360 Nashotka Rd. Madison Twp, Pa.  18444 570-241-5875 [email protected]     December 11, 2023-Department judging  January 15, 2024-Department Winner and Reports submitted to VFW National HQ January 20, 2024-Annual Voice of Democracy Banquet-DoubleTree by Hilton-Pittsburgh Cranberry

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Richland Source

North Central Ohio's Independent Local News

Colonel Crawford 7th grader wins VFW Patriot’s Pen essay contest

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NORTH ROBINSON – Each year more than 165,400 students across the country in grades 6 to 8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards.

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.

In the fall, 7th and 8th grade students in Mrs. Whitt’s classes were offered the opportunity to participate in the annual essay contest through the Galion VFW. With the topic of “What Patriotism Means to Me,” William Crawford Intermediate School swept the local awards with Brayden Hickman winning 1st place, Rayna Shelton 2nd, and Lexi Dure 3rd.

Brayden’s essay went on to the district level where he again took 1st place. Rayna also placed in districts. As a first-place winner, Brayden’s essay went up against others from all 12 VFW districts across the state. Crawford County is a part of District 10 along with 6 surrounding counties.

Brayden, a 7th grader, is the son of Levi and Jessica Hickman. He said he enjoyed the contest.

“I wrote the essay to explain to other people how important patriotism is to me. I was excited to win, and I am happy to be a part of it.”

William Crawford Intermediate Principal April Bond said this is a great experience for students.

“I am thankful we have community partners, like the Galion VFW, who provide these opportunities for our students, and I am appreciative of Mrs. Whitt as she takes the time in class to provide a chance for students to express themselves and be recognized for their efforts and abilities. We have wonderful students here at Colonel Crawford, and I am proud to see them representing us well in the community.”

COLONEL CRAWFORD LOCAL SCHOOLS

Colonel Crawford Local Schools provides education to over 900 students from preschool through 12th grade. The district offers a curriculum with a wide range of electives and comprehensive courses of study in college preparatory, vocational and physical education programs. The district’s mission is to enable students to grow academically and socially by providing a safe, positive and challenging learning environment.

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PATRIOTS PEN

POST CHAIRMAN - DON HOFFMAN

DISTRICT CHAIRMAN - MONTY PARR

DEPARTMENT CHAIRMAN -  DEBBIE McELHANNON  

PATRIOT'S PEN

2021-2022 Theme: "How Can I Be A Good American?"

WHAT IS THE PATRIOT’S PEN?

Conducted nationwide, this VFW-sponsored youth essay competition encourages students to use their minds and knowledge of America’s history and their experience of today’s American society to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. We invite you to join the more than 138,000 students who participated last year in this contest. Patriot’s Pen gives 6 th , 7 th , and 8 th  grade students the opportunity to express their opinion on a patriotic theme and improve their writing skills, while they compete for awards and prizes. The awards from all levels of the competition total $1.2 million each year. Each Department (state) first place winner competes at the national level for $55,000 in award money. The first place national winner receives $5,000 and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the winner and a parent or guardian. Each state winner will receive at least $500 at the national level. The National Association of Secondary School Principals has placed this program on their National Advisory List of Contests for participation.

The theme for the Annual VFW Patriot’s Pen Essay is "How Can I Be A Good American?”. The contest is open to all students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades in public, private, parochial schools, as well as, home-schooled children in the United States and its territories or its possessions and dependents of U.S. military or civilian personnel in overseas schools. Former first place state winners are not eligible to compete again. Foreign exchange students, adults and former winners that placed in the National contest are not eligible to compete. Although U.S. citizenship is not required, students must be lawful U.S. permanent residents or have applied for permanent residence (the application cannot have been denied) and intends to become a U.S. citizen at the earliest opportunity allowed by law. Brochures on the program were mailed to all Post Commanders and Auxiliary Presidents. Schools should be contacted as soon as they open for the current year in order that the teachers can include the contest in the lesson plans. Posts are responsible for giving their area schools Patriot’s Pen pamphlets. You can check the program on the web at  https://www.vfw.org/patriotspen  to see requirements and print the entry forms.  

The essay must be typed in English and be 300-400 words in length. Poetry is not accepted. Word count does not include the title or footnotes.  NO GRAPHICS OR COLOR ALLOWED .  The essay must be a contestant’s original work and a product of the contestant’s own thinking. Contestants will NOT identify themselves within their essay to include, but not limited to, their name, school, city, state, race or national origin. Do not put the students name on the essay; use the entry form as the cover sheet.

VERY IMPORTANT: POST CHAIRMAN SHOULD pursue a notice in local media.

Posts may submit one winning entry to the District for judging.  Districts may submit one winning entry to the Department Chairman.

WINNING ENTRIES ADVANCED FOR JUDGING MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING:

1. Official entry form and info required. Forms may be printed from online at www.vfw.org

2. Three typed copies of the essay

PATRIOT’S PEN Deadlines: The deadlines for Patriot’s Pen are as follows:

 1.     Midnight, October 31, Entries to the Post*

2.    November 15, Completion of Post judging**

3.    December 10, Completion of District judging**

4.    December 10, January 15, Posts need to submit report on dashboard to acknowledge that they participated in Patriot Pen*

5.    December 13, Email or fax a copy of your  winning essay  to the email or fax above*(Email preferred)

6.    December 15, District  winning entry packet with head shot picture of winner must be received by Department Chairman*

7.    January 10, Completion of Department judging**

8.    January 15, District participation reports to Department Chairman* District chairmen should roll up the post reports into one District report. All District reports must be received by 15 January and  include the phone number and email address of the chairman of that district .*

9.    January 15, Districts must submit a report and approve post reports on dashboard to acknowledge that the posts and District participated in Patriot Pen*

10.  January 15, Department winners to National*

11.  January 31, Department reports to National*

*required deadlines

**suggested deadlines

DO NOT mail District entries and required forms to State Headquarters.  Mail them directly to the State Patriot’s Pen Chairman in above heading.

Note: It’s critical that the Post/District reports be accurate. Ask for guidance if something is unclear.

Points Value in judging is as follows:

             Knowledge of Theme -           30 pts

            Theme Development  -           35 pts

             Clarity of Ideas            -            35 pts

            Possible Total             -           100 pts

First, second, and third place state winners will receive awards presented by State Chairman at the Mid-Winter Conference.

 An entry for judging at the next higher level is a requirement for All-State selection.

Individual awards will not be permitted to be presented by the respective District Chairmen at the Mid-Winter Conference. These awards SHOULD BE PRESENTED AT THE DISTRICT'S AWARDS PROGRAM. Posts and Districts are encouraged to present awards to their respective entries.

OTHER GUIDELINES:

If the  school does not participate ,  or if there are no schools in your area, the Post should contact student(s)and have them participate in a Post contest with the Post winner being entered into the District competition.  Home-schooled children,  your child, grandchild, or a friend's child might just be interested in winning a scholarship. Do not lose the opportunity to have your Post or Auxiliary compete in the Patriot’s Pen contest.

Posts and Auxiliaries should make their awards as large as possible. WE HAVE TO have an incentive for the teachers to push the program in order to get larger student participation. Many Posts and Auxiliaries have an Awards Night at the Post Home for teachers, community leaders and students. Some schools request that it be held at a school function. Whichever is done, make sure the students are rewarded and the community is aware of it. It is suggested that each Post and/or Auxiliary present some sort of citation to participating winners, students, teachers, etc. Citations can be ordered from the National Emblem and Supply Catalog. Department can help you create a citation also.

  All entries, including Home Schools , must be judged at the VFW Post level. The only exception is where schools/classes/youth groups have large numbers of students and wish to conduct their own competition, submitting one winner for each 15 students to the local VFW Post competition. Individual students may submit their entry directly to the local VFW Post within your U.S. state of residence provided they have not competed in a school class competition.

Click here to view the Rules & Eligibility Requirements:  Patriots-Pen-Rules-and-Eligibility.pdf

Click here to download the current year Entry Form:  Patriots-Pen-Entry-Form-Fillable.pdf

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Montag, Steffen, and Street Win Patriot’s Pen Contest

Local News December 30, 2021 Staff 0

Heyden Montag, a seventh grader, earned first place in the Patriot’s Pen local essay contest sponsored by the Milbank VFW and VFW Auxiliary. Eighth graders Keira Steffen and Charlotte Street took second and third place respectively. 

The Patriot’s Pen contest is open to all sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students, including those who are homeschooled. The 2021-2022 theme is: “How Can I Be a Good American?” Montag’s essay was sent to the district competition. The district winner will compete at the state level.  The state winner receives an all-expenses paid trip to Washington D.C. Milbank’s place winners received a certificate, medal, and monetary prize. Rhonda Preller, senior vice president of the local VFW Auxiliary, presented the awards. 

Heyden’s essay:

Photo: Charlotte Street (left),   Heyden Montag (middle) and Keira Steffen (right).

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PATRIOT PEN

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. 

The Michigan 2024 Patriot's Pen winner was "Mr." Derek Plichta  from Farewell Middle School in VFW District 11 and VFW Post 3030! 

-------------------------------------------------------- 

2023-2024 PATRIOT’S PEN ESSAY PROGRAM

" How are you Inspired by America ? ”

All information pertaining to the theme, judging, eligibility, awards, and other aspects of this program are contained in the Veterans of Foreign Wars program booklet for the Annual Patriot’s Pen Essay Program.  District Commanders are responsible to ensure that their District Chairman are conducting their programs within these rules and deadlines.  District Commanders are solely responsible for the conduct of the programs within their Districts.  Make sure that copies of this program are distributed to all the Posts within your District in sufficient time to ensure that there is a successful competition.

The Patriot’s Pen Essay program is a joint program with the VFW Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Michigan. The Auxiliary does not need the permission of a Post to participate in the program.  Post and District Chairman are expected to include their VFW Auxiliary Counterparts in all activities concerning the conduct of the local and District programs.  Coordination of the District program is the responsibility of the District Commanders and District Chairman.  Post Chairman must refer to their District program for the program requirements and deadlines.

Judging the Contest

The suggested number of judges is five to nine, with a minimum of three.  Judges should be from outside your Posts and Auxiliaries and should represent your community.  Judges must not in any way be connected to the students in the competition.  Set the date for your judging and invite the judges at least 60 days in advance.  Remind them a week before the competition with a letter or email, and two days before with a phone call.

Eligibility

Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade students in public, private, parochial, and home schools in the State of Michigan.  Former first place winners at the State and National level of competition or any Foreign Exchange students are not eligible. Students do not have to be relatives of a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars or its VFW Auxiliary to participate.

Essays must be typed, or computer printed in English, between 300-400 words, on a single sheet of paper, with no added color or art.

To receive credit for participation in the Patriot’s Pen Essay Competition, a Post must sponsor the program in their community. While it is important to offer the Patriot’s Pen Essay Program in our schools, it is not solely a program for the schools.  You may offer the competition to any sixth, seventh, or eighth grade student.  All entries must be submitted directly to the Post. They may be sponsored through local schools, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Church youth groups, Junior ROTC programs, the home schooled, etc.  Posts are encouraged to solicit participants from as many sources as possible.  The Post will hold their own judging and may submit to the District the number of students permitted by the following:

·        1-15 Student Participants:  1 Top Post entry is allowed to advance to District.

·        16-30 Student Participants: 2 Top Post entries are allowed to advance to District.

·        31-45 Student Participants: 3 Top Post entries are allowed to advance to District, etc.

Note:  No Limit

Posts may advance as many winners as they select based on the total number of students participating.  Post judging is the responsibility of the Post Chairman and must be conducted in accordance with the National Judging Criteria.  The Post may forward each first-place winning entry to the District.  Each student entry submitted by a Post to the District must be an equal first place winner. This means that each Post student entry must receive the same award.  For example, a Post has fifty-five student entries and is eligible to send four entries to the District for judging.  Those four entries must each receive an equal first place award from the Post.  If the Post lists them as first, second, third and fourth place, then they can only send in one entry as the first-place winner.  Note:  First place Post winner’s entry packets must include a completed Student Biographical Questionnaire, School Release Form and Wallet size phot when sent to the District.  Post packets will not be accepted unless complete.

School/Youth Group Competition Alternatives

We offer teachers/youth leaders the option to use the Patriot’s Pen as a writing exercise.  The teacher/leader may submit all the entries to the Post for judging or conduct a judging within the group or class and advance a winner for every fifteen participants as shown above.  Note: The Post Chairman should make this decision working closely with the teacher or group leader.

Each District shall be responsible for the conduct of the program and judging of entries within their District.  District Chairman are expected to promote the expansion of the program by encouraging the participation of additional Posts.  It is not always possible to restrict sponsorship strictly along VFW District Boundaries.  Posts may solicit student participation from any geographical area within the State of Michigan if they do not interfere with the sponsorship of other Posts.  District Chairman are expected to assist Posts in the coordination of sponsorship of all schools in the District.  It is unacceptable that a school is not contacted.  Each District may submit only one entry to the Department for judging. This entry must be certified on the proper National Entry Form by the District Chairman to be the District First place winner of the District Program Judging.  The following items MUST accompany the District Entry to the Department for Judging:

·        One Student Essay in accordance with the above rules.

·        One completed student entry from the National Program Booklet.

·        A quality head and shoulder photograph, wallet size only.

·        One typed copy of the student’s essay.

·        One signed Student Release Form (Link below).

·        One Student Biographical Questionnaire (Link below) must accompany your District Winner.

It is the responsibility of District Chairman to ensure that all materials are included.  Any entry that does not include all the required above items may not be judged.

To obtain program credit the Post Chairman portion of the Student Entry Form must be completed and submitted to the District with each Post entry.  The form must include the number of students participating from the school and the approximate cost for the program and awards.  Proper credit cannot be given without this information.  District Chairman are required to submit a consolidated report of Post participation within their District using the District Report form and the District Summary Form.  The reports MUST accompany the District Entry to Department.  It is the responsibility of the Post, District, and Department Adjutants to input the Patriot’s entries into the All-American Dashboard.  This is to include all monetary values spent on this event.  Failure to do so can cause the Post, District, and/or Department to show a NOT MET in this category.

The deadline for Post sponsored entries is October 31, 2023.   Post judging may not be held before November 1, 2023, and must be completed in time to ensure that winning entries are delivered to the District Chairman by November 16, 2023.    District judging may not be held before November 16, 2023 , and must be completed in time to ensure that the winning entry with all required materials are in the hands of the Department Director by December 16, 2023.   The Department deadline for District entries is December 16, 2023 .  This deadline is absolute, and it includes all paperwork.  Department judging will be closed and will be the responsibility of the Department Committee. Please be advised that the state judging will be attended only by the VFW Department Committee members, VFW State Auxiliary Committee members, and the State Judges.  The Committee has the authority to disqualify from the Department judging any entry which is in violation of the rules as stated in the Department Program and the National Program Booklet.

All Post and District awards are the responsibility of those organizations.  Department awards will be presented at the 2024 Department of Michigan Mid-Winter Conference.  All District winners are expected to be present.  Each District must assume the cost of their winner’s transportation, meals, and lodging. Department will provide each District winner with one banquet ticket.  Banquet tickets for family members and other guests are the sole responsibility of the District in cooperation with the sponsoring Post.

Michael Martin, Director

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Denise Arnold, Auxiliary Chair

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Mt Pleasant MI 48858

989-621-0327

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PATRIOT'S PEN

What is patriot's pen.

•  Essay length: 300-400 typewritten words (+ or - 5 words max)
• You must write your own essay
• All entries begin at the VFW Post level. The only exception is where schools/classes/youth groups have large numbers of students and wish to conduct their own competition, submitting one winner for each 15 students to the VFW Post. Individual students may submit their entry directly to the Post. The contest consists of four levels. The first level (entry) is sponsored by VFW Posts. Post winners advance, one for every 15 entries, to the VFW District (regional) level where the one first-place winner is advanced to the VFW Department (state) level. The first-place winner at the Department level is then advanced into the VFW national competition. 

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PATRIOTS PEN

Patriot's pen:  the 2021-22 theme is: , how can i be a good american.

Each year more than 165,400 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s  Patriot’s Pen  youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000! 

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. Want to apply?  Read the rules and eligibility requirements , and  download and complete the 2021-2022 Patriot's Pen entry form  as all student entries must be submitted to a sponsoring  local VFW Post  by  midnight, Oct. 31 .

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Patriot's Pen Essay Contest

Ages: Middle School

Type: Submission

Scope: National

[email protected] (816) 756-3390

Participate

Conducted nationwide, this VFW-sponsored youth essay competition gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. We invite you to join the more than 120,000 students who participated last year in this contest. The national winners will receive at least $500. The first-place national award is currently $5,000 plus an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the winner and a parent or guardian.

Submit an essay based on the year's topic and requirements.

Website: https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships

Managing Organization: Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

Contact: [email protected] (816) 756-3390

Eligibility: The Patriot's Pen program is open to students in grades 6-8 (on the October 31 deadline), who are enrolled in a public, private or parochial school or home study program in the United States and its territories.

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VFW Post 3617

Wenatchee valley veterans & families, patriot’s pen & youth essay.

Each year more than 132,000 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest. The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.

The national first-place winner receives $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. The first-place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $54,500, with each first-place state winner receiving a minimum of $500 at the national level.

How to enter

The Theme for 2023 is: “How Are You Inspired by America?”

Review the [ Rules & Eligibility ]. Download the [ entry form ]. Complete the form and submit it with the written essay to our Post by 31 Oct 2023 . Entries can be mailed in or dropped off during open hours.

Past Winners

2021 – “How Can I Be a Good American?”

2020 – “What is Patriotism to Me?” 1 st : Rachel Carter, Valley Academy of Learning, Wenatchee

2017 – “America’s Gift to My Generation” 1 st : Claire Countryman-Logstrom, Eastmont Jr. High 2 nd : Katelin Neff, Sterling Intermediate School 3 rd : Ella Fillion, Sterling Intermediate School

2016 – “The America I Believe In” 1 st : Colby Hull, Sterling Intermediate School 2 nd : Isaac Darlington, Sterling Intermediate School

2015 1 st : Libby Marcoux, Pioneer Middle School 2 nd : Issac Darlington, Sterling Intermediate School 3 rd : Rae Ann Dressel, Pioneer Middle School

2014 1 st : Aiden Larsen, Eastmont Jr. High 2 nd : Marissa Ann Geesey, Waterville School 3 rd : Grace B. Rodriquez, Icicle River Middle School

2013 – “What Patriotism Means to Me” 1 st : McKenzie Ayers 2 nd : Jarred Barnes 3 rd : Domonique Villeia

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Washington State offers an additional Youth Essay opportunity for students in Third, Fourth and Fifth Grades to submit a written essay of up to 250 words. There will be a Post winner FOR EACH GRADE, as well as a State Winner FOR EACH GRADE. Awards are at the discretion of the local Posts and their Auxiliaries, as are the District Awards.

The Theme for 2023 is “What does the word “Veteran” mean to you?”

Download the [ entry form ], which includes Rules & Eligibility information on page 2. Complete the form and submit it with the written essay to our Post by 31 Oct 2023 . Entries can be mailed in or dropped off during open hours.

2017 – “What Does a Veteran Mean to Me?” 1 st : Alex Anguiano, Washington Elementary 2 nd : Khloe Suppes, Waterville Elementary 3 rd : Isabela Orr, Lewis & Clark Elementary

2016 1 st : RyAnne Barnes, Clovis Elementary 2 nd : Andrea Hernandez, Lewis & Clark Elementary 3 rd : Alex Anguiano, Washington Elementary

2015 Jessalyn Alcazar, Mission View Elementary

2014 1 st : Layni Schmultzer, Grant Elementary 2 nd : Denise Sanchez, Sterling School 3 rd : Natalie Daggett, Sterling School

2013 1 st : Makenna Schwab 2 nd : Natteag Daris 3 rd : Cynthia Monravalo

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635-й зенитно-ракетный полк

Military Unit: 86646

Activated 1953 in Stepanshchino, Moscow Oblast - initially as the 1945th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment for Special Use and from 1955 as the 635th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment for Special Use.

1953 to 1984 equipped with 60 S-25 (SA-1) launchers:

• Launch area: 55 15 43N, 38 32 13E (US designation: Moscow SAM site E14-1)
• Support area: 55 16 50N, 38 32 28E
• Guidance area: 55 16 31N, 38 30 38E

1984 converted to the S-300PT (SA-10) with three independent battalions:

• 1st independent Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion (Bessonovo, Moscow Oblast) - 55 09 34N, 38 22 26E
• 2nd independent Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion and HQ (Stepanshchino, Moscow Oblast) - 55 15 31N, 38 32 23E
• 3rd independent Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion (Shcherbovo, Moscow Oblast) - 55 22 32N, 38 43 33E

Disbanded 1.5.98.

Subordination:

• 1st Special Air Defence Corps , 1953 - 1.6.88
• 86th Air Defence Division , 1.6.88 - 1.10.94
• 86th Air Defence Brigade , 1.10.94 - 1.10.95
• 86th Air Defence Division , 1.10.95 - 1.5.98

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Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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Six Boston-area students pen winning Holocaust essays

An annual Massachusetts essay contest to commemorate the Holocaust produced winning entries that drew on local students’ experiences with alienation and bias in a society still grappling with racism and antisemitism while also noting the importance of preserving family stories of struggle.

The competition, sponsored by the family of the late Holocaust survivor Israel Arbeiter and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Boston, featured entries from a number of students of color. The 400–800-word essays were submitted by middle and high school students.

The six winners of the 18th Annual Israel Arbeiter Holocaust Essay Contest honored at the State Room in Boston included Sean Gabriel Biteranta, an 11th grader at Stoughton High School, Rex Chen, an 8th grader at Hingham Middle School and Heaven Rowell, a 12th grader at Stoughton High School, who each received framed certificates from Arbeiter’s son, Jack.

Also receiving certificates were Chris Bingham, an 8th grader at the Horace Mann Middle School in Franklin, Eliana Goldenholz, a 10th grader at the Maimonides School in Brookline, and Nathan Pichardo, an 8th grader at Tenney Grammar School in Methuen. They will all be going on a November trip to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.

Biteranta, who was born in the Philippines and lived in California before moving to Stoughton with her family, wrote about survival and the importance of re-telling your stories.

“Human life is a centuries-long story of survival, and if we’re lucky enough, someone will listen to our stories and preserve them,” she wrote. “In doing so, we preserve our ability as human beings to feel for one another.”

Rex Chen and Eliana Goldenholz (first-place winners) lighting the candle for All the Children. PHOTO: COURTESY JCRC BOSTON/ JOHN RICH PHOTOGRAPHY

In his essay, Chen wrote, “These testimonies are vital to preserving historical truths, promoting sympathy, and inspiring action toward injustice in society today.”

“They remind us of the effects of hatred, discrimination, and prejudice. They force us to confront the truths about humanity’s evil power and find solutions.”

Pichardo’s essay emphasized the validity of the testimonies. “Survivor stories aren’t just like books we can read for fun,” he wrote. “They’re real-life tales that teach us important lessons.”

Each student had learned about the Holocaust prior to the contest and felt an affinity with the victims of almost a century ago.

“I was taught a lot of valuable lessons about life and love,” Biteranta told the Banner, recalling early life in the Philippines.

“I’m a minority myself, being an immigrant Filipino, so I’ve definitely experienced discrimination,” Biteranta continued. “I don’t necessarily have similar experiences to those of the victims of the Holocaust, but from years of self-improvement, I was able to teach myself empathy. So while I may not exactly be able to relate, I was able to put myself in their shoes and feel what they felt.”

Chen’s mother, a teacher, and his father, who works in a restaurant, came to the U.S. during the early 2000s. In 2019, his family moved from Quincy to Hingham.

“My parents were Chinese immigrants who had to overcome physical and mental obstacles,” Chen told the Banner. “And now, they carry their own stories of hope and survival.”

Like the others, Chen didn’t just learn about the Holocaust – he applied it in context to his own life. “Compared to the struggles Jews faced during the Holocaust, I have it much easier,” he acknowledged. “Everything seems given to me. I have good food, nice clothes, and a stable roof over my head.”

But he knows that not everyone is that fortunate, and like Jews in late 1930s Europe, it can all disappear in a moment.

“I realize many of the things I regularly take for granted never seem important until they are taken away,” Chen said. “And so I learned about the different paths Holocaust survivors took to save themselves and the people they loved. I learned the importance of getting up and trying again, even after being beat down and stepped on time after time. I also learned the importance of forgiveness.”

And of bravery. “Nothing will change if you don’t do anything to change it,” he added. “No one will care unless you advocate. And no one will remember unless you teach.”

“I was overwhelmed with sympathy and admiration for the reality and strength of the survivors and Jewish community,” Rowell told the Banner. “Not just out of a place of empathy, but from a place of understanding, of being an African American and sharing a similar history.”

“Growing up, I felt out of place in society and experienced the claws of racism at a very early age,” Rowell explained. “I noticed many things, like how my family was the only Black family on our street, how people would look as I walked around a store with my mom, or how I got in trouble when a little white girl called me the ‘N-word’ in 5th grade.”

“Most of these Holocaust stories did not come out in one stroke, and in Anne Frank’s and Oskar Schindler’s cases, not even by themselves,” Biteranta wrote in her essay, “but rather by those around them who listened and preserved their stories for the world to recognize.”

All look forward to the trip to Washington. Biteranta, who has never been there, is excited to experience it, as is Chen. “I hope to learn more about World War II and the Holocaust in detail,” he said. “I also want to gain a deeper understanding of how my country operates, and of American culture. And finally, I want to take in the vibrance of the city and its food, monuments, and art.”

Arbeiter, a Holocaust survivor who settled in Newton and who died in 2021 at age 96, was born in Plock, Poland, and was 14 when World War II erupted. His parents and younger brother died at Treblinka, and he and his two remaining brothers worked in slave labor at other Nazi concentration camps that included Auschwitz-Birkenau.

After the war, he founded the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston, co-founded the New England Holocaust Memorial, and worked tirelessly to promote awareness about the Holocaust and to preserve the memories of its victims.

His work continues to inspire students like this year’s winners.

“Israel Arbeiter worked hard to make sure we don’t forget about the Holocaust and how it changed the world,” Pichardo wrote in his essay. “He wants us to understand what happened, so we can learn from it.”

Chen’s essay imagines a better world based on Arbeiter’s teachings. “By creating a society centered around tolerance, compassion and dignity, people can continue to honor the victims of the Holocaust and strive for a greater future,” he wrote. “As Israel Arbeiter said, ‘There is ne ver enough remembering.’”

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