DEAR READERS: Today, Veterans Day, we celebrate the sacrifice and patriotism of our nation's military. Many gave their lives to guarantee our freedom. We owe our veterans and those men and women currently serving in the military a deep debt of gratitude. I salute you all, as do my readers.

In honor of Veterans Day, I'm reprinting an essay on patriotism that was written by the granddaughter of Phyl Erickson of Coon Rapids, Minn. The young lady, Jenna Guimaraes, was only 12 at the time, but she understood the importance of this aspect of our freedom.

PATRIOTISM

by Jenna Guimaraes

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Every day my classmates and I recite this oath. By doing so, we promise to be true to our country, ourselves and our fellow Americans.

In school we study the history of our country, learning about those who lived long ago, who stood up for their beliefs, risked their lives, homes and safety to give promise to a better life to their descendants. Because of these people, our country is a great place to live.

Though we are younger than most countries, many look up to us for protection, leadership, support and friendship.

Patriotism can be shown in many ways, even by ordinary people. Mary Hays, otherwise known as Molly Pitcher, is one of them.

Molly Pitcher carried water to the soldiers during the Revolutionary War. When one of the soldiers fell from heat stroke, Molly shot the cannon for him. Molly loved her country so much that she risked her life in battle, even at a time when women didn't fight.

We don't have to risk our lives to show our patriotism, but I am grateful to those who did.

DEAR ABBY: I've been corresponding with this great, wealthy guy named "Howard." We met through an introduction service and exchanged photographs. During our telephone conversation last night, he mentioned that he doesn't like women who have had breast implants. Howard likes chesty girls -- which I am -- but I DO have breast implants. He told me this after I purchased a nonrefundable plane ticket to meet him at his home in Los Angeles.

Howard says I'm gorgeous, but he assumes I am naturally endowed. Abby, I wanted to tell him, but since I have already purchased the ticket, I think the best thing to do is to tell him face-to-face. I know he will be hurt because he is clearly smitten with me -- and the feeling is mutual.

We have a ton in common, and despite his wealth, I find him down-to-earth and kind. I am a sincere person and don't want to pull the wool over his eyes. Have you any suggestions on how I should handle this? -- D CUP IN DETROIT

DEAR D: Once he meets you in person, he may realize that your finer qualities -- all of which come from within -- outweigh your two faults. If he doesn't, then the loss is his.

Dear Abby is written by Pauline Phillips and daughter Jeanne Phillips.

Good advice for everyone -- teens to seniors -- is in "The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It." To order, send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $5 (U.S. funds only) to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)

DEAR ABBY: I am a grandmother who volunteers in a third-grade class. Last week, a child I was reading to turned to me and said, "Grandma, have you ever been so hungry that you couldn't play at recess?" It broke my heart that an 8-year-old girl could get her brother and herself off to school, but not have food for breakfast.

Of course, our elementary school has a free breakfast program. The irony is that some parents would rather send their children to school hungry than sign them up.

Unfortunately, many children complain of hunger during the school day. My teachers and I have started a classroom pantry so we can provide a nutritious snack to any student who, because of hunger, struggles to read, solve an arithmetic problem or play actively on the school grounds.

Abby, please let parents know that their children need nourishment in the mornings. Most schools provide breakfast and lunch for free or at reduced rates. Being well-fed will help their children succeed in school. -- VOLUNTEER GRANDMA

DEAR GRANDMA: I'm pleased to print your letter. Everyone should know that breakfast has long been considered the most important meal of the day. Schools should remind parents that nutrition programs are offered to students who need them.

If parents fail to sign up their children for breakfasts or lunches out of some misguided sense of pride, the teacher or principal of the school should make sure the parents are aware of the importance of the program. If that fails, then child protective services should be informed of the plight of truly neglected children.

DEAR ABBY: I am an atheist. I keep this to myself most of the time because of people's misunderstanding and fear. Over the years, a number of people I cared about drifted away once I told them about my beliefs.

I'd like to share with you and your readers what I do and do not believe in:

(1) I believe in the Golden Rule.

(2) I believe each human life is precious; indeed, all life is precious.

(3) Terrible things have been done in the name of religion, but in the end, I believe much good has come to the world because of religious beliefs.

(4) I don't believe in God or any other supernatural being, including the devil.

(5) I believe with death we cease to exist. Therefore, while we are here on Earth it is our job to treat each other and ourselves with care and do as little damage as possible.

America is based on freedom of -- or freedom from -- religion. It's uncomfortable feeling that I continually need to conceal my true beliefs from others.

Thank you for listening. -- STILL A GOOD PERSON

DEAR STILL: As recent events have proven, many evil acts have been done in the name of religion. While atheists are in the minority, you owe no one an apology for your feelings; they are your own. We live in a free country, and freedom means being free to believe what you want to believe.

Dear Abby is written by Pauline Phillips and daughter Jeanne Phillips.

Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets: "Abby's Favorite Recipes" and "More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby." Send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $10 (U.S. funds)

to: Dear Abby -- Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included in price.)

DEAR ABBY: Over the years, I have seen many letters in your column about dogs and cats, but I can't recall seeing one about a hidden problem -- abandoned pets. My neighbors and I live in a rural section of Washington. We constantly see dogs and cats dumped on our road. Frightened, they run from help. They are chased by predators. With no hunting skills, and no food or clean water, they suffer in unimaginable ways -- dying slowly.

I vividly remember the plight of one cat. Maybe the owners thought by leaving it close to a house, it would find the loving home they could not provide. Day after day, it haunted the roadside. I stopped many times to try to lure it to safety, but it would hide frightened in the underbrush. Eventually, it was hit by a car. It had sat for days on the edge of the road, confident its owners would return to take it home.

Abby, please ask your readers to think twice before taking on the responsibility of an animal. If they must get rid of a pet, take it to a shelter. Dumping a pet on the side of the road is not the answer. People who live in the country have as many pets as they want and can afford. -- PET LOVER IN TENINO, WASH.

DEAR PET LOVER: Your letter is an important one, and it carries a message that has appeared in this column before.

Pet owners should indeed think twice before dumping an animal they want to dispose of. They should rid themselves of the fantasy that it will survive, because it probably won't. If they cannot bring themselves to take the animal to a shelter, then they should call a veterinarian for referral to a pet rescue group.

DEAR ABBY: As chief of staff, secretary and head policy maker of the Long Beach Society of Couch Potatoes, I must say that your correspondent Ann Fink of Florida, with her exercise program for lazy people, neglected to mention a few favorites.

I hereby submit our local program for California Couch Potatoes:

-- Skating on thin ice

-- Casting aspersions

-- Throwing caution to the wind

-- Bending the truth

-- Digging up dirt

-- Flogging a dead horse

-- Going the extra mile

-- Jumping to conclusions

-- Lashing out

-- Upping the stakes

-- Quashing rumors

-- Dancing up a storm

-- Marching to a different drummer

Our group urges that you don't push your luck, for fear that you could end up pushing up the daisies. -- MAX GATOV, LONG BEACH, CALIF.

DEAR MAX: You seem to have an unusually active group of couch potatoes. As with other produce from our great state, California Couch Potatoes are larger and more fully developed than those you usually see sitting in doctors' offices in the other 49.

Dear Abby is written by Pauline Phillips and daughter Jeanne Phillips.

For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more attractive person, order "How to Be Popular." Send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $5 (U.S. funds only) to: Dear Abby Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)