DEAR ABBY: Our country and our world are experiencing some trying times. In times such as this, Americans reach out to each other and rely upon our strength and traditions.

Many years ago, you started one such tradition -- Operation Dear Abby -- designed to bring a touch of home to our troops stationed overseas. This year, because of fears of mail-tampering, Operation Dear Abby was reluctantly suspended by the Department of Defense. When that happened, something very traditional and American was taken away by terrorists.

While I understand the rationale behind the cancellation, we don't want Osama bin Laden and his terrorists to win -- and some American airman, soldier, sailor or marine far from home to feel forgotten. Although we can't give terrorists access to our GIs by mail, it is still possible to send our holiday greetings to the troops.

Let's not give in! Let's continue the tradition of Operation Dear Abby, but in a different format. What we need is a network or Web site where greetings can be sent to a hub and directed to the troops. While it won't be the same as receiving a greeting card that can be posted in their locker, they'll still be getting the message that we support them, and that they're in our hearts and prayers.

As a senior officer in the armed forces, I know how much Operation Dear Abby means to our troops far from home. So, what do you say, Abby?

BRIG. GEN. M. ERNIE CALLENDER, HILL
A.F.B., UTAH

DEAR BRIG. GEN. CALLENDER: I say full speed ahead!

When I received the news that Operation Dear Abby had been suspended, I was bitterly disappointed that such a worthwhile program had become a casualty of war. Since itsinception in 1967, it has been a valuable morale-booster for the military as well as Americans of every age here and at home. And thousands of readers wasted no itme in writing and e-mailing me to say how disappointed they were.

Well, I have wonderful news. Thanks to the Department of Defense, Operation Dear Abby is off the ropes and back in fighting form! Not only that, it has taken a giant leap forward onto the Internet.

www.OperationDearAbby.net is private and
secure because it is powered by AnyServiceMember.Navy.mil and it serves all branches of our armed forces.

In the past, readers have complained because Operation Dear Abby was limited to Nov. 15 to Jan. 15. www.OperationDearAbby.net will be year-round. And more wonderful news -- all messages will be relayed to our troops via a secure military site, which means they'll be bug-free and virus-free in every sense of the word.

So, Dear Readers, if there's a message in your hearts you would like to convey to our heroic service members worldwide during this holiday season, now's the time. Christmas and New Year's are just around the corner. Go to your computer, type in www.OperationDearAbby.net and show our troops how much we support them. If you're not computer literate, ask a computer-savvy friend to help you send a message. This year, it's more important than ever to let our troops know they're appreciated and remembered.

Love, and Happy Holidays,
JEANNE PHILLIPS
a.k.a. ABIGAIL VAN BUREN

Pauline Phillips and her daughter
Jeanne Phillips both share the
pseudonym Abigail Van Buren. Write
Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or
P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

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