The San Diego Chapter of Veterans for Peace is offering six scholarships to San Diego area students. This is the third year the local veterans group has offered financial help to high school students and veterans who have returned to college.

The following scholarships will be awarded for the best essays written on the subject of "Means and Methods to Establish World Peace Without Violence."

• High school senior in San Diego County: $1,000

• High school senior in San Diego County: $500

• High school senior in San Diego County: $500

• Oceanside high school senior: $500

• Fallbrook high school senior: $250

• Veteran attending college full-time in San Diego County: $500

The application form and more information can be found at www.sdvfp.org/scholarship.htm. The deadline for submitting an essay is May 15. Scholarship winners will be announced and awarded on June 1.

The Hugh Thompson Memorial Chapter of Veterans for Peace of San Diego also presents the Arlington West Memorial at various locations around the county, where markers represent the 3,100-plus US troops who have been killed in the Iraq War. Crosses, Stars of David or Crescents are set up in neat rows and each marker carries the name, age, rank and branch of service of the fallen serviceman or servicewoman.

More information about the scholarships and activities of Veterans for Peace can be found at www.sdvfp.org.