DEAR SUN SPOTS: In the veterans’ cemetery in Augusta some very lovely Christmas wreaths were placed on graves, especially in Section N. It is obvious these are not private tokens of respect. Can you identify the group or organization who so honored our veterans? — M.L.B., Livermore Falls

ANSWER: According to Candace at the cemetery, the wreaths on the ground were from Wreaths Across America, the same Maine group that provides the wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery. The next Wreaths Across America Day is Dec. 15, 2012.

Sponsors are accepted. If you’d like to learn more about the group, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org, call 470-0967 or 877-385-9504 or write P.O. Box 249, Columbia Falls, ME 04623.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Would it be possible to get the address for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona? If you don’t choose to publish it, how could a person write for it? — M. Jacques, Livermore

ANSWER: As you can imagine, Giffords does not make her home address readily available. Even before her shooting, security for elected officials was pretty strenuous. All mail is routed through special security (checked for poisons or other threats), delaying them for a couple of weeks. Contact online is strongly encouraged.

Giffords even announced her resignation from Congress on her Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GabrielleGiffords).You can send her a message there if you’re on Facebook or have someone who can do it for you.

Sun Spots does have a couple of ideas for sending a traditional letter. One is to send your letter in care of her good friend, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who is still serving in Congress. Your letter will take a while to reach Giffords, but Schultz will probably forward supportive letters on to Giffords. You can write to Schultz at 118 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC 20515.

Also, after Giffords was shot, NASA set up a site for readers who wanted to send letters of support for her husband, Mark Kelly, and brother-in-law, Scott Kelly. Again, there will be security delays, but your letter might get there. Write to Mark Kelly, c/o Kelly Curtis, Mailcode: CB, NASA Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058.

From Sun Spots’ reading, it looks like Giffords is currently living in Houston, where her husband has a home. The U.S. mail might deliver a letter sent to her care of general delivery in Houston, but your letter might be destroyed unopened since it won’t have been through security.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In December there was a big photo of a bald eagle in the Oxford Hills edition of the paper. I believe the photo story said the photo was taken in Poland at an undisclosed location. How can I get a copy of the picture? — Thomas Cushman, tcushman3@myfairpoint.net

ANSWER: Sun Journal photographer Amber Waterman took that photo of an eagle perched on a bare branch among tall pines. You can buy it online at http://tinyurl.com/7xvnn7h. Just click the “buy a print” below the photo, and the system will walk you through the purchase.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In response to the Jan. 25 writer looking for books, if you are online, there is a great, inexpensive way to collect missing books from a series, or just to get the books you want to read. It’s called PaperbackSwap and can be reached at www.paperbackswap.com.

When you join, you list books you are willing to send to other readers. When a reader claims a book you have listed, you mail it and pay for the postage, earning a credit in the system. The system lets you know when a book you want is available, and when you claim a book from someone else, they send it to you and you pay nothing.

If you run out of credits you can purchase more very reasonably, and most books require only one credit. I have belonged for several years and have enjoyed putting together my favorite authors’ series at a cost I can afford. — Pat Malcolm, pmalcpoet@yahoo.com

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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