Searching for Patriots: VFW works to revive interest in scholarship contests

MARSHFIELD — Mary Lou Dewar remembers when judging the VFW’s student essay contests required a small army of volunteers.
“We used to have at least 10 people judging at that time,” recalls her husband, Butch Dewar, a past commander at VFW Post 1866. Back then, 300 to 400 students would submit entries for the annual patriotism contests.
Those days feel like a distant memory.
Now, after 52 years with the VFW Auxiliary, Mary Lou Dewar finds herself fighting to keep programs alive that once thrived in central Wisconsin schools. Despite offering college scholarships worth up to $35,000, the contests struggle to attract participants in an era when fewer families have military connections and civic education has faded from many curriculums.
“I think a lot of it is because the students are involved in too much stuff,” says Dewar, who serves as both auxiliary president and chairman of all scholarship programs. “Or the real reason, maybe, is they don’t know enough about the program.”

The Dewars, along with current Commander Dick Wilson, refuse to surrender. They’ve made early visits to schools this year, hoping to catch educators before schedules are set. They’re banking on media coverage to reach homeschooled students and parents who might not hear about the opportunities otherwise.
The statistics tell a sobering story about military service in America. Wilson notes that only about 1% of the population joins the military, meaning today’s students are less likely to have veteran grandparents who might inspire their participation.
“When I listened to some of the essays last year, they all mentioned, ‘I talked to my grandma, my grandpa about — they were a veteran, and that inspired them,’” Wilson says. “I think that missing piece is gone.”
The Dewars said the decline accelerated after a Columbus High School teacher who made the contests part of his curriculum retired. For years, his students provided a steady stream of entries.
Success stories keep them motivated. Isaac Scheer from Columbus won multiple Voice of Democracy contests and went on to excel in academics and track. Another former winner, a teacher Mary Lou Dewar and Butch nominated years ago, advanced all the way to state level. And each level offers different prizes, from $150 all the way to $35,000.
The post funds local prizes through community fundraisers — brat stands, fish fries, raffles at the county fair. Contest rules are strict: audio essays must be completely free of background noise. Even birds chirping means disqualification.
“We had one student that played a little background music. Thought it was helping,” Butch Dewar recalls. “We had to disqualify her, and we told her. ‘Well, she said, I can take that out.’ Yes, do that, resubmit it.”
The post serves communities throughout central Wisconsin, including smaller towns that lack their own VFW chapters. Beyond scholarships, Post 1866 maintains a relief fund for veterans in need and coordinates Veterans Day visits to nursing homes, where members present handmade lap blankets to veteran residents.
For Mary Lou Dewar, the work represents more than just distributing prize money. In an age when civic education has diminished, the contests offer students a chance to connect with American values and history.
“It just perpetuates the patriotism,” Wilson adds. “And you know, when kids get together, pretty soon, two kids are doing it and five kids are going to do it. We just got to get those numbers going.”
At 52 years of service, Mary Lou Dewar shows no signs of slowing down. She stepped down as auxiliary president once, fearing no one else would step up. She soon found herself back in the role, training younger members while maintaining the scholarship programs.
The deadlines are approaching — Oct. 31 for writing contests, March 31 for art submissions. And the Dewars and Wilson will be waiting.