REMEMBER OUR NATION'S VETERANS ON VALENTINE'S DAY.

Byline: Ann Landers 

Dear Ann Landers: Since 1989, when you first asked your readers to send greetings to America's hospitalized veterans through your Ann Landers-Valentine Vet program, the response has been overwhelming. Year after year, millions of cards and letters are received. Last year, more than 1 million valentines were sent to our 172 Veterans Affairs medical centers across the country. With some 61,000 brave men and women hospitalized on any given day, that was more than 15 valentines for each veteran.

Cards and letters came from all over the world - Australia, Germany, Canada, just to name a few. And again, teachers used this program to provide a history lesson for their students. It gave them the opportunity to talk about veterans and who they are. Sunday school students, Scouting groups and social organizations also supported the program generously.

In some areas, students delivered the valentines in person. It is always touching to see how young children brighten the lives of our elderly veterans with their colorful valentines. Cards were made in every shape and size - some with baseball cards, construction paper, colored doilies, stickers, crayons and markers. But as different as each card was, they all had one thing in common. They were made with love and respect for our nation's veterans.

We in the VA are committed to caring and courtesy by "putting veterans first" and meeting the ever-changing needs of our veterans, especially the brave men and women who are hospitalized.

The National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans is just around the corner, Feb. 11-17. We hope your readers will again let our veterans know that they are appreciated and not forgotten. We look forward to another successful year of Ann Landers-Valentine Vet, and I know our veterans do, too.

- Jesse Brown,

secretary of Veterans Affairs 

Dear Jesse Brown: I've always known that my readers are the most warmhearted, responsive people in the world. When I ask them to do something, they come through like champions.

So, dear readers, once again it's time to let our veterans know we appreciate them. It won't cost much, and it's sure to bring enormous pleasure to our vets, to whom we owe so much.

These men and women served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the war in the Persian Gulf. They represent every race, color and creed. We can never repay these valiant vets for the sacrifices they have made, but we can do something to cheer them up and let them know that they have not been forgotten.

Teachers, I'm depending on you once more to make this a class project. Those handmade valentines are real heartwarmers. When my staff and I passed them out personally at the Lakeside VA Medical Center in Chicago, those were the most enthusiastically received of all. Please encourage your students to be creative and let them learn firsthand the satisfaction that comes from doing something for others.

The veterans would be thrilled if you could drop off your valentines in person at your local VA hospital. If you don't know where your local VA hospital is, check your telephone directory or call the VA toll-free number at [phone] to find the facility nearest you.

I know of nothing you can do that would cost so little and bring so much happiness to those who deserve to be remembered. Thank you and God bless.