● DEAR ABBY: Years ago, when our daughter, Stacy, was in the eighth grade, she won a school prize for the best poem. We thought you might like to print it on Flag Day for your readers to enjoy. — Stacy's proud parents in New York
DEAR PROUD PARENTS: Readers, this poem was read into the Congressional Record during the 89th Congress. Read on:
THE FLAG
(By Stacy Frank, Grade 8)
This flag of red and white and blue
May not mean very much to you.
But as for me this banner flies
And with its mighty voice it cries
Out to peoples far and near
To proclaim our freedom here.
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A small beginning, I agree,
But like the acorn to the tree.
Thirteen states we had at first,
But as our country grew, our thirst
For land and freedom did not stop.
That land did well; produced a crop
For countries of the world to share
And then they knew our flag was fair.
And underneath this starry wing
Foreign peoples help to sing
The greatest story ever told,
The story of our country bold.
Of its birth into the world
And of its wondrous flag unfurled.
And over the world there ne'er will stand
The flag of any other land
That will mean as much to me
As this flag of liberty.
● DEAR ABBY: I am 19, and I'm wondering if you could give me some information. When I was in high school, one of my teachers told us about a program through which we could write to soldiers — you know, a comforting letter to let them know there are people out here who support them.
I no longer have the address. My grandmother remembered that she had recently seen in your column a Web address for writing to our servicemen. Would you please let me have it? — A friend, Lake Havasu City
DEAR FRIEND: The Web site is OperationDearAbby.net — if you go there and click on "Send a message," you can send as many messages to as many branches of the armed forces as you want.