American Women Veterans is proud to announce our first annual Welcome Home Essay contest. Winners will receive a free trip to New York City to march with us in the New York City Veteran’s Day Parade. The contest is open to all recently (within one year) returned veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Essay Question
Deployments can be big, life changing experiences. We want to know: What did you learn on your deployment? What did you take away from the experience? What did you learn about yourself or life in general? How are you different from when you left?
Submissions can be funny. Funny things happen on deployments. They can be rough, because many of us have had rough deployments, too. They also can be inspiring. Some of us have come back inspired to do crazy things, like climbing mountains, finishing college degrees, or starting a charity. But, most importantly, submissions should be honest.
The Details
Winner will receive air fare, lodging and accommodations for 2 nights in New York City to march with American Women Veterans at the New York City Veteran’s Day Parade on November 11th, 2010.
Must be an original, previously unpublished work of no more than 3,000 words. Essay should be emailed to americawomenveterans@gmail.com Essay must be submitted using Microsoft Word, including author’s name, rank, unit, what service you are in, email address, and phone number.
You must be female.
You must have returned from a deployment to the Iraq or Afghanistan theater of operations after November 1, 2009.
Contest is only open to those in the Continental United States.
Submissions must be received by 29 October, 2010.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I don’t win the contest, can I still march in the parade with AWV? Absolutely. We encourage women veterans of all services and eras to join us for the parade.
Why is AWV doing this? Because we had a great time at the Veteran’s Parade last year and we thought it would be great if we could share that experience with a recently deployed woman veteran.
How is AWV paying for this? An anonymous donor contributed enough frequent flyer miles for one plane ticket and two nights in a hotel.
How can I help? Forward this message on to your friends. Repost this link on Facebook.
What else can I do to help? If you would like to donate your frequent flyer miles or the cash equivalent to sponsor next year’s contest, we’d love to have representatives from all five services. If you would like to make a pledge, contact us at americanwomenveterans@gmail.com
Disclaimers:
By submitting an application, you hereby certify that you are or were a member of the armed forces (Active or Reserve). Furthermore, you certify that you meet the deployment or service eligibility requirement outlined above.
Winner must be able to attend the New York City Veterans Day parade. If you are on active duty, you must be in an approved Leave or Liberty status, depending on your command policy. If you cannot attend, AWV reserves the right to choose a runner up who can attend.
AWV staff members and their families are ineligible for this promotion.
All submissions become the property of AWV and author yields the copyright submissions to AWV. Submissions may be used for promotional or fundraising efforts at a later date. AWV will attribute author’s work in any such material. All entries will be considered. Decision of the judges is final.
More information here.
This blog is no longer updated. Please instead visit Writers For Diversity for new opportunities for women/ LGBT writers and writers of color. Thank you.
