This is the 29th year of the Voices of Peace Poetry Contest sponsored by Cape Cod Veterans for Peace, Corporal Jeffrey M. Lucey, Chapter 041. Support and assistance is provided by the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod, who generously help fund this yearly project; Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, who prints our book of winning poems; an esteemed team of veterans, teachers, and poets, who volunteer on the judging panel; as well as generous support from Jeffrey Lucey’s family.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are proud that our contest has been able to adapt, survive, and thrive. In the contest’s 28 years, more than 13,544 Cape and Islands poets have participated. With last year’s return to our in-person Awards Ceremony, contest participation in all categories doubled in 2023, inspiring a total of 619 poets, representing 39 schools, with 66 teachers facilitating student submissions. Each year promises to produce moving and important work.

All winners receive a certificate, a published book of winning poems, and an invitation to read their poem at our Awards Ceremony. In addition, First Honors poets will receive a cash prize of $25 and Second Honors poets receive $15. We look forward to gathering together again to experience the power of peace poetry at the Awards Ceremony on May18th, 2024.

POETRY SUBMISSIONS: Please pay close attention to submitting poems in the correct format as shown in the attached image of leaflet. Preferred submission format is a PDF file attached to an email, sent to teppernina2@gmail.com with the Subject Line: VFP Poetry Contest. Entries can still be mailed to: Veterans For Peace, 45 Sassafras Lane, Marstons Mills, MA 02648.

ART SUBMISSIONS: Voices of Peace will accept artwork from students in grades K-12 to potentially grace the 8 1/2 X 11, vertical cover of our 2024 poetry publication. Artwork must represent the theme of peace as outlined in the attached guidelines, and be submitted as a separate email attachment, either scanned or photographed. Artwork must be independent of poetry submissions. Please hold on to the originals until artwork is selected.

The Voices of Peace poetry contest DUE DATE is 5:00 pm, Friday, March 29, 2024. The Awards Ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 18, 2024 at South Congregational Church, Centerville, with winners’ registration beginning at 9:30 AM. Preferred submission format is a PDF file attached to an email, sent to teppernina2@gmail.com with the Subject Line: VFP Poetry Contest.

Entries can still be mailed to: Veterans For Peace, 45 Sassafras Lane, Marstons Mills, MA 02648 Please do not hesitate to contact Nina Tepper, coordinator, at teppernina2@gmail.com or visit www.vfpcapecod.org for any concerns or clarification.

Guidelines: VFP2024PoetryPoemFormat_12_9