On Dec. 13, Lunenburg County’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9954 Commander James Hagaman announced the kickoff of this year’s VFW’s “Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award” contest.

Every year, the VFW recognizes three exceptional teachers for their outstanding commitment to teaching Americanism and patriotism to their students. The three winning teachers receive $1,000 for their professional development, $1,000 for their school plus an all-expenses-paid trip to the VFW’s National Convention in July.

Teachers of grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 can be nominated by fellow teachers, students, supervisors or other interested individuals. Teachers who promote civic responsibility, flag etiquette and patriotism, and strive to help students develop a better understanding of democratic values and beliefs are prime candidates for the award. Nomination forms are due to the local VFW Post by Feb. 15.

Nominated teachers compete at the local VFW Post level with the winners advancing to District.  District winners compete in the state level competition with state first-place winners advancing to the National Competition.

The VFW enacted the Teacher of the Year award contest in 1999 as a way to identify and recognize America’s best educators. The VFW annually recognizes the nation’s top teachers who instill a sense of national pride in students by teaching citizenship education topics regularly and promoting America’s history and traditions effectively.

If you are interested in nominating a teacher for this contest, you should contact the Citizenship Education Chairman  Thomas Clegg VFW Post 9954 by phone at (603) 325-5008 or by e-mail at Thomas Clegg nhrattler@yahoo.com for more information.

ABOUT THE VFW: The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is a nonprofit veterans service organization composed of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces. Founded in 1899 and chartered by Congress in 1936, the VFW is the nation’s largest organization of war veterans and its oldest major veterans organization. With nearly 1.9 million VFW and Auxiliary members located in more than 6,800 posts worldwide, “NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS.” The VFW and its Auxiliaries are dedicated to veterans’ service, legislative advocacy, and military and community service programs. For more information or to join, visit our website at www.vfw.org.