DEAR ABBY: Years ago, when our daughter, Stacy, was in the eighth grade, a contest was held at her school to see if they could win one of the flags that had flown over the U.S. Capitol.

Our daughter, who is now grown, won the prize for the best poem. We thought you might like to print it on Flag Day for your readers to enjoy. We think its message is one that is worthwhile. -- STACY'S PROUD PARENTS IN NEW YORK

DEAR PROUD PARENTS: I agree with you. It is not only worthwhile, I found it touching. Readers, this poem was read into the Congressional Record during the second session of 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.

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 little program where we could write to soldiers -- you know, a comforting letter to let them know there are people out here who support them.

I have moved several times since then and no longer have the address. Today I mentioned it to my grandmother, and she remembered that she had recently seen in your column a Web site to write to our servicemen. Do you still have that Web site available? If so, would you please let me have it? I'd very much appreciate it. -- A FRIEND IN NEED, LAKE HAVASU CITY, ARIZ.

DEAR FRIEND IN NEED: I certainly do have it. The Web site your grandmother referred to is OperationDearAbby.net -- and it has been up and running since 2001. If you go there and click on "Send a message," you can send as many messages of support to as many branches of the armed forces as you wish. They will be read by military service members around the globe.

To order "How to Write Letters for All Occasions," send a business-sized, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $6 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby -- Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included in the price.)

DEAR ABBY: I have a suggestion for "Wondering in Cleveland," whose Aunt Irene goes prowling through drawers during family gatherings. Rather than excluding her from future family get-togethers, how about leaving notes in all the drawers that say something like, "Hello, Aunt Irene. We hope that all our drawers pass your inspection!"

That ought to embarrass her enough to get her to cut it out without having to actually confront her. -- DAUGHTER OF ANOTHER SNOOP IN KENTUCKY

DEAR DAUGHTER: That's a cute idea -- another reader suggested stuffing the medicine chests with marbles. But several people wrote to point out that the woman could have a problem far more serious than bad manners. Read on:

DEAR ABBY: You said Aunt Irene was just nosy and should not be invited back if her behavior continued. I suspect that the poor lady may suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Her behavior seems too over-the-top to just be that of a nosy person, and it fits someone who has OCD. If that's the case, what Aunt Irene needs is professional help. -- ANOTHER VIEW, NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF.

DEAR ABBY: My grandmother is in the late stages of Alzheimer's disease. Before it became obvious to those who weren't aware that she had it, she would often wander away during dinner and other family get-togethers. We would find her in bedrooms or bathrooms. She thought she was in her own home and not intruding on anybody.

"Wondering's" uncle may have seemed embarrassed when approached about the situation because he is not yet ready to divulge some touchy information. I'm offering this as food for thought that may help them in understanding the aunt's strange behavior. Locking the doors to the bedrooms would also be a good solution. -- LAURA IN NEW PORT RICHEY, FLA.

DEAR ABBY: I had the same experience with my mother when my uncle passed away. I took her to the funeral 1,000 miles away. He was her only brother. She became restless and wandered from room to room, opening closets. My aunt was very annoyed and embarrassed by her behavior. I thought her uncharacteristic behavior was caused by grief.

It turned out my mother was in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's patients live in a state of confusion. They prowl around trying to find something that makes sense to them. They misplace valuables and look in drawers and closets for them, and they also forget what they are looking for.

Your advice to leave her out of family gatherings and tell her it is because of her behavior would be cruel. If she has Alzheimer's, she has no power of reasoning or logic, and her feelings would be very hurt. I took my mother into my home for the last five years of her life. It was the most difficult task I have ever done, but it was character-building because of the patience I had to learn. Aunt Irene will need a lot of love and understanding if she, too, has this disease -- if that is what it is, and I'm betting she does. -- JAYNE IN WACO, TEXAS

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 $6 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)

DEAR ABBY: Most of us appreciate the joy of a new parent showing off snapshots for the first few months of a child's life. But enough, already!

My co-worker's first child will be 1 year old next week. Every single week he walks around the office, fresh pictures in hand, stopping at desks up and down the room.

We understand his pride, but our forced grins are getting old. Can you, maybe, send a message to new parents out there to let it rest after the first few months? How about posting a Web site that people can visit at their leisure? I don't want to be cruel, but I don't want to be trapped into dutifully "oooing" and "aaahhing," either. Help! -- BABY O.D. IN LONG BEACH

DEAR BABY O.D.: I'm sure many readers will sympathize, truly sympathize, with your plight. The weekly "show and tell" can be hard to take after a while. That's why you and your co-workers should suggest to the proud papa that he start assembling a photo album that will eventually become a treasured family keepsake in years to come. Assure him that you'd be glad to review it -- quarterly. Or, in self-defense, parents and pet owners could begin flashing pictures of their own little ones for him to admire every time he comes by with his new batch of snapshots. (After a while, he'd get the message.)

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I are both retired. We have been married less than a year.

When we were selling our individual dwellings and jointly purchasing one together, we discussed at length what we would use in furnishing the new residence. We mutually decided that most of my furniture and accessories were in better shape than those coming from his 12 years living as a widower in a furnished condo. He assured me that nothing he possessed had sentimental value. There were, however, many personal items belonging to his deceased wife.

He consulted me about each item -- should this be sold at a yard sale? Should that be given to charity? What about her hobby things? I tried to be fair in my assessment of their possible use in our new life together. The old Remington typewriter was sold to an antique dealer. The lace-making materials were given to the local recreation center.

Now, every time we get into an argument, he "reminds" me that there is very little in this house that is his. Then he goes on to say I "made" him dispose of things that meant a lot to him. What recourse do I have in silencing these unfair and untrue statements that serve only to inflame and cause smoldering resentment? -- GALLED IN GOODYEAR, ARIZ.

DEAR GALLED: Look at your husband and say: "I thought the decision to get rid of those things was mutual. I'm sorry you are sorry. If you're having regrets, consider this: You gave up those 'things,' but now you have ME -- and I love you."

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: "It has been said that man is the only animal who laughs, the only one who weeps, the only one who prays, the only one who walks fully erect, the only one who makes fires, the only one who can invent, the only one with a written language, the only one who is proud, the only one who can make progress, the only one who guides his own destiny, the only one who is penitent, and the only one who needs to be." -- DAVID ELTON TRUEBLOOD

What teens need to know about sex, drugs, AIDS, and getting along with peers and parents is in "What Every Teen Should Know." To order, send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $6 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)