By Brittani Kosan

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 5469, will be holding a contest for Patriotic art. The winners of the contest will be announced May 1. All work is to be submitted by April 26, when the VFW members will be judging entries.

To be eligibile to enter the contest, you must be currently enrolled as a GSC student and the work you are submitting must be from the 2018-2019 school year.

All forms of artwork can be submitted. For 2D work they ask that the work is ready to be hung and that it’s no smaller than 8”x10” while not exceeding 24”x36”. For 3D work they ask for it not to be any smaller than 8” not any larger than 24” in any direction, no more than five pounds. They will not accept work in any form of jewelry.

There will be cash awards for students, first place will be awarded $200, second place is $100, and third place is $50. If you win a cash reward, please note that your artwork will hang for one year or unil the next art contest is held by the VFW.

If you use any form or image of the American Flag, it needs to comply with the Federal Flag Code. If you are not familiar with the code the following list is for you:

• The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
• The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.
• The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.
• The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free.
• Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker’s desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.
• The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.
• The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.
• The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.
• The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.
• The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.
• No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
• The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning. (If you own a flag that is no longer fitting you can give it to either the VFW Post 5469 or to the local Girl Scouts Troop 32394 for proper retirement of the flag)

The location for entry drop off has not been confirmed yet and will be released at a later date.