RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia War Memorial has announced that it is seeking entries for its annual student essay contest. According to the Virginia Department of Veteran Services (DVS), the "Virginia War Memorial 2024 Veterans Day Student Essay Contest" is open to all Virginia middle and high school-age students. This includes public, private and homeschooled students. For this year's competition, the essay topic is "A Virginian Who Served in the Military Who Inspires Me." A student's essay subject must be a Virginian who has served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, anywhere in the world, from the time span of World War II to present day. This can include family or community members. Essays should be 500-700 words in length and should utilize interviews as well as primary sources whenever possible. For additional resources regarding Virginia military veterans, students are encouraged to contact Virginia War Memorial Archivist Sylvia Marshall via email at [email protected]. There will be one winner selected from all middle school entries (grades 6-8) and one from all high school entries (grades 9-12). A prize package will be given to the two winning students courtesy of McDonald's Restaurants of Richmond and Hampton Roads and the nonprofit Virginia War Memorial Foundation. The two winners will also have the chance to go to Richmond and read their essays aloud at the Veterans Day Ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond on Monday, Nov. 11. All entries must be submitted to the Virginia War Memorial website by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20. For more information about the rules, guidelines and how to enter, visit this link. For additional information or questions, please contact the Memorial's Education Outreach & Programs Manager Elizabeth Oglesby via email at [email protected].