KANSAS CITY, Mo. — VFW has announced the winners of the 2026 National Publications Contest. Like previous years, to encourage further participation, this year’s contest included the categories of Best Magazine and Best Feature Story.
Two non-VFW affiliated journalism professionals served as judges for the competition. This is designed to guarantee impartiality and objectivity in judging. One of the judges commented that this year saw some of the best submissions for the VFW Publication Contest, particularly in the category for Best Feature Story.
The winning publications in each category are:
Best Magazine
Grand Award:
The California Veteran
Skip Miller, Editor
Silver Award:
Texas VFW
Kayla Caruso, Editor
Bronze Award:
Department of South Carolina Sentinel
Bill LaMonte, Editor
Best Feature Article
Grand Award:
“Renewed Purpose: Veteran Finds Community in the VFW”
Macee Swafford, The Sentinel-Echo
Silver Award:
“Remembering Lt. John Marshall Runkle, Who Gave All for Country”
Zoltan Krompecher, The Plain Dealer
Bronze Award:
“HLWW Honors Those Who Have Served with Annual Veterans Day Program"
Austen Neaton, Herald Journal
Department Publications
Large Frequency (printed 5+ times per year)
Grand Award:
Wisconsin VFW News
Marla J. Morgan, Editor
Small Frequency (printed 1-4 times per year)
Grand Award:
Illinois VFW News
Barbara Wilson, Editor
Silver Award:
New York State Overseas Veteran
Jody Treadway, Editor
District/Post Publications
Large Frequency (printed 5+ times per year)
Grand Award:
VFW Post 1503 Newsletter
Mike Beach & Ben Guinan, Editors
Silver Award:
VFW Post 2894 Newsletter
Dan Eaker, Editor
Small Frequency (printed 1-4 times per year)
Grand Award:
VFW Post 2016 News
Ski Iworsky, Editor
Silver Award:
VFW Post 1318 News
Gundel Metz, Editor
Bronze Award:
VFW Post 4495 Quarterly
Mary Koches, Editor