Dear Sun Spots: In May of this year my brother, Sgt. Raymond Michaud with the 4th Infantry G Troop 10th Cavalry out of Texas, came home.

He was in Iraq for over a year. I thank God every day that he made it home.

I know there is too many that didn’t, and my heart goes out to all the families. I do pray that all of our military men and women come home safely.

This is to our troops:

Your courage and bravery united we stand,

By air, by sea and even by land.

There are men and women standing strong,

To protect our country from evil and wrong.

Many have been wounded, many killed.

Many held prisoner and our hearts were filled.

Tears fill our eyes as we wait in fear

Praying each day that the end is near.

To all the military women and men,

I have a message I’d like to send:

Thank you to each and every one of you,

Hope, prayer, hopefully will see you through.

Debby Cornish, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: Where can I find a place that can fix or replace the element in my General Electric Toast R-oven? The element is broken. It is Model No: T26/3126.

Can you please help me? – No Name, Lewiston.

Answer: For small appliance repair, contact Agren’s Appliance at 40 Minot Ave., Auburn, (207) 784-0235, who may be able to assist you.

Dear Sun Spots: I would like to know when the 2004 quarters will be out for Texas, Iowa and Wisconsin. Thanks. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: All three were to be released June 1. Sun Spots has not located anything noting they did not make it into the public domain. It takes a while for the coins to circulate into general circulation, and Sun Spots would wager you’ll shortly see them when heading to the toll booth.

The Texas quarter is the third quarter of 2004, and the 28th in the 50 State Quarters Program. On Dec. 29, 1845, Texas became the 28th state admitted into the union. The quarter’s reverse design incorporates an outline of the state with a star superimposed on the outline and the inscription, “The Lone Star State.” The lariat encircling the design is symbolic of the cattle and cowboy history of Texas, as well as the frontier spirit.

The Iowa quarter is the fourth of 2004, and the 29th in the program. On Dec. 28, 1846, Iowa became the 29th state admitted into the union. The Iowa quarter features a one-room schoolhouse with a teacher and students planting a tree, and the inscriptions “Foundation in Education” and “Grant Wood.” The design is based on “Arbor Day,” a painting by Grant Wood, who was born near Anamosa, Iowa. He spent his career as a proponent of small-town values, which he celebrated in the iconic images of small-town plain folk and Midwestern vistas for which he is renowned.

The Wisconsin quarter is the fifth of 2004, and the 30th in the program. On May 29, 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th state admitted into the union. The Wisconsin design depicts an agricultural theme featuring the head of a cow, a round of cheese and an ear of corn. The design also bears an inscription of the state motto, “Forward.”

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