2019 Poetry Contest Rules

2019 Heroes’ Voices National Veterans’ Poetry Contest

U.S. military veterans are invited to submit original poetry for this contest

First Prize $1,000 ♦ Second Prize $500
Third Prize $250 ♦ Fourth Prize $100

Official Rules

  1. Sponsor. The 2019 Heroes’ Voices National Veterans’ Poetry Contest (“the Contest”) is sponsored by Heroes’ Voices, San Francisco Veterans War Memorial Building, 401 Van Ness Avenue Suite 224C, San Francisco, California 94102. The Contest is not sponsored in any way by the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, or George Mason University.
  2. Eligibility. This contest is open to all veterans who have served in any branch of the armed forces of the United States of America. Entrants need not provide proof of service in the US Armed Forces at the time of submission. The Contest is void where prohibited by law.
  3. Contest Period. The Contest begins at 8:00 am Pacific Time on February 15, 2019 and ends at 11:59 pm Pacific Time (PT) on April 20, 2019 (the “Contest Period”). All dates and times for the Contest Period are subject to change.
  4. How To Enter. Entrants may submit up to three (3) poems (“Entries”) online or via U.S. mail between February 15, 2019 and 11:59 pm PT April 20, 2019 (the “Contest Period”).
    • Method of submission:
      1. Online: Complete registration form and submit poems at https://www.cognitoforms.com/HeroesVoices1/_2019PoetryContestSubmissionForm during the Contest Period.
      2. U.S. Mail: Mail submission to:
             Heroes’ Voices Poetry Contest
             San Francisco Veterans War Memorial Building
             401 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 224C
             San Francisco, California 94102
        Entrants must include in the same envelope as the Entry: name, mailing address, telephone number, branch of service, year of enlistment, year of discharge, and rank at time of discharge. Entry submissions must be postmarked between February 15, 2019 and April 20, 2019, and must be received by April 28, 2019. Heroes’ Voices is not responsible for lost or misdirected Entries.
    • Format for all submissions:
      1. Online submissions must be made in PDF or Word format.
      2. Poems should be provided in 12-point Times New Roman font. Portrait layout on letter-sized paper is preferred. Entries will not be penalized for other fonts or formats if the judge determines that the font or format enhances the poem.
      3. Handwritten Entries may be accepted if they are legible, in the sole discretion of the judging panel.
      4. Entrants submitting more than one Entry may submit the Entries at the same time or at different times. No more than three Entries will be accepted or considered from any one Entrant

    Limit three (3) Entries per Entrant during the Contest Period. Participation in the Contest is voluntary and does not require you to purchase anything or make a donation. No illegible, incomplete or mislabeled entries will be accepted.
    NO PURCHASES OR DONATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN A PRIZE

  5. Requirements and Contest Criteria. Entries must meet the following criteria:
    • Only original, unpublished work may be submitted.
    • Each poem is limited to four (4) pages or 200 lines in length.
    • Themes of the submitted poetry will be “The Soldiers’ Journey”. Poems will be, very broadly, about the experience of being in the armed services and/or being a veteran. The poems’ subjects could be inspired by personal triumphs or tragedies, relationships, health, spiritual insights, community, family and social issues, affected by your service in the military.
    • No offensive, distasteful, or derogatory filter images may be displayed.


    Each entry that meets these requirements will be evaluated by the following criteria (the “Contest Criteria”): Creativity, originality, composition, design, image quality, and adherence to the Contest Requirements. Your entry must be original, unpublished work that does not contain any content that is owned by a third party, or that violates a third party’s publicity, privacy or intellectual property rights. Heroes’ Voices reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify entries which it determines at any time in its sole judgment fail to meet any of the Contest Criteria or these Rules.

  6. Ownership / Use of Entries. By submitting an entry, you agree that you are the owner of the work, and that you have all necessary rights and authorities to submit such work to Heroes’ Voices for inclusion in the Contest. By submitting an entry to the Contest, you grant permission for Heroes’ Voices to publish or otherwise use your submission without compensation or any further notification.
  7. Selection and Validation of Winners. A panel of judges, in in its sole discretion, shall select four (4) potential winners from among all eligible entries based on compliance with these Rules and with the Contest Criteria. The potential winners will be notified and asked to demonstrate eligibility, including proof of relevant service in the US Armed Forces (Form DD214 or equivalent). If a potential winner is unable for whatever reason to accept his or her prize or fails to return the required proof of eligibility within fifteen (15) of days of notification, Heroes’ Voices reserves the right to award the prize to another entrant. All decisions of the judges and of Heroes’ Voices are final and binding.
  8. Winner Notification. Potential winners will be notified via email and/or telephone within three (3) weeks from the end of the Contest Period. The winners and a copy of these Rules will be available on the Heroes’ Voices website and upon request once the winners are announced, and for 90 days thereafter.
  9. Prize. One (1) First Prize, one (1) Second Prize, one (1) Third Prize, and one (1) Fourth Prize will be awarded, for a total of Four (4) Winners of the Contest. Total prize value is $1,850. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. The four winners shall receive:
    • First Prize: $1,000
    • Second Prize: $500
    • Second Prize: $250
    • Fourth Prize: $100
    • Publication. Heroes’ Voices expects to feature the winning submissions (as well as other notable poetry) in two public readings in the Spring of 2019 (dates and venues to be determined): In San Francisco, California and at George Mason University in Virginia.


    Heroes’ Voices expects to publish the winning poems and other top submissions on its website, www.heroesvoices.org, for at least 30 days and in a chap book (a limited-edition booklet). A copy of the chap book will be provided free of charge to each entrant whose poem is selected for publication.

    Heroes’ Voices may change or cancel plans for publication at its sole discretion. Winners will be notified of the poetry reading dates and locations once the schedule has been confirmed. If Winner, entrants, and/or family and friends wish to travel to the poetry reading events, he or she is responsible for all costs associated with travel, lodging, and other expenses that may be incurred.

  10. Privacy. Entrants agree that personal data submitted with an entry or other communication with Heroes’ Voices, including name, mailing address, phone number, and email address may be collected, processed, stored and otherwise used by Heroes’ Voices for the purposes of conducting the Contest. We may also use your personal information to send you updates on Heroes’ Voices and promotional materials from time to time. The Entrant’s personal data and submission may be displayed on Heroes’ Voices’ website and on Heroes’ Voices’ social media pages.
  11. General Conditions. Heroes’ Voices reserves the right to disqualify any Entrant from the Contest if, in Heroes’ Voices’ sole discretion, it reasonably believes that the Entrant has engaged in misrepresentation, including the use of multiple email addresses or aliases, or cheating, deception, or other unfair playing practices or annoys, abuses, threatens or harasses any other entrants or Heroes’ Voices. Heroes’ Voices reserves the right to cancel the Contest for any reason at any time. Contest is void where prohibited by law. Taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the Winner.
  12. Release, Forum, and Recourse. Entrant agrees to release and hold harmless the Sponsor, Heroes’ Voices, the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, or George Mason University, together with their respective employees or agents, from all damages or liabilities in any way related to the Contest, the Entrant’s participation in the Contest, or the selection of Winners or awarding of Prizes. This Contest shall be governed and subject to the laws of San Francisco, California. Any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action in connection with this Contest shall be resolved individually, without resort to class action. Any claims, judgments or awards shall be limited to out of pocket costs associated with entering this Contest.
  13. Sponsor Contact Info: Rick Harrell, info@heroesvoices.org, 415-484-9852.