Congratulating the winners of the Voice of Democracy national scholarship program.

Whereas the Voice of Democracy (VOD) scholarship program is an audio-essay contest for high school students in grades 9 through 12 that annually provides more than $3,000,000 in scholarships;

Whereas the Voice of Democracy program is designed to foster patriotism by allowing students the opportunity to voice their opinion in a 3- to 5-minute audio essay based on an annual theme;

Whereas the winners of the 2010 Voice of Democracy contest are selected based on the originality, content, and delivery of their audio essay;

Whereas the Veterans of Foreign Wars has sponsored the Voice of Democracy scholarship program since 1947 and has encouraged students to express patriotism since that time;

Whereas the Voice of Democracy program is closely associated with the Patriots Pen program, a youth-essay writing contest for students in grades 6 through 8;

Whereas the 2009–2010 Voice of Democracy theme is Does America still have heroes?;

Whereas more than 50,000 American students across the world participated in the Voice of Democracy competition for the 2009–2010 school year; and

Whereas Madison Mullen, Anthony Zendejas IV, and Lena Savell were named the first, second, and third place winners of the 2009–2010 Voice of Democracy scholarship program: Now, therefore, be it