Essay honors servicemen

Dear Readers: Today is Memorial Day. Here is a touching essay in honor of all those who died in service to their country. It was written by John T. Bird, writer and editor, of Birmingham, Ala.
Last Monday in May
We pause to remember those who died
with so much courage, so much pride.
They'll never come back, but memories endure
to remind us of freedom: fragile, pure.
We're worthy of their sacrifice
if we pause each day
not just on the last Monday in May.
Dear Annie: As a grade-school teacher with over 30 years' experience, and as the parent of a student with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), I would like to reply to "Did It in Montana" and "My Son is Suffering."
ADD can be treated successfully with many different medications. According to research, without medication, the vast majority of these children will make poor behavior choices, end up with a low self-concept, have few, if any, friends, achieve limited academic progress and most likely won't finish high school. Many will need counseling, and a high percentage will have problems with the law. Beyond school, ADD/ADHD children can wreak havoc on their families and siblings.
I know some parents don't want their children to be "drugged," but if a child had a physical problem, wouldn't parents provide medication to help? If your child's teacher says there is a problem, please consult a doctor who specializes in child-adolescent ADD/ADHD and have the child professionally evaluated. Teacher
Dear Teacher: Thank you for your valuable input. We know how reluctant parents are to medicate their children, especially if they perceive the medication to be an excuse for a teacher to keep children docile. Many of these parents opt for home-schooling. But parents must realize that sometimes, the child is in desperate need of help, and postponing it will only exacerbate the problem. Here's one more:
Dear Annie: Thank you for referencing CHADD as a resource, but could you please refer readers to the Child & amp; Adolescent Bipolar Foundation as well? The Web site is www.bpkids.org.
Two years ago, my daughter was diagnosed with ADHD, but after eight different medications, we realized something was just not right. Further testing concluded that she might have Early Onset Child Bipolar disease. My daughter is now on the correct medication and doing great. Grateful Mother
Dear Annie: Where is the "pound" key on my phone? In the middle of the night, I tried to call the superintendent to report a major flood in the hallway of our apartment building. The voice mail instructed me to press "pound." I accidentally pushed the star key and was told that my message had been erased.
I'm sure I am not the only one who doesn't know which key is "pound." In an emergency, this instruction is just not helpful. London, Ontario, Canada
Dear Canada: The "pound" key derives from the symbol of the same name, and it looks like a tick-tack-toe grid. On most telephones, it is located on the bottom right. Anyone who isn't sure where the pound key is should take a look now, so you can find it when you need it.
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Creators Syndicate
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