CHILDREN MAKE CARDS FOR THE TROOPS

Yesterday was perfect for just about any late-summer activity before the start of school a swim, ice cream, whatever. But Michaela Byrne was instead inside U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan's office.

Byrne and about 20 other children from around the area were putting together homemade cards to be delivered by Meehan to Massachusetts-based troops when Meehan visits Iraq next week...

Meehan will deliver the cards on Monday, when he is greeted by troops from Massachusetts and other states when he arrives in Iraq. He is going with a group of 11 congressmen, most of whom are part of the House Government Reform Committee.

The kids were cranking out a couple of cards of each, and they will be passed out by Meehan. Andrew Cook, the 10-year-old son of Meehan spokesman Patrick Cook, was helping out yesterday.

Cook had drawn one card with an eagle on it, and another with Uncle Sam telling troops, "Thank you soldiers, you are great patriots." Like Byrne, Cook admitted he didn't know much about the situation in Iraq, but he was thankful the troops are there.

"I think they're really nice to go over there," Cook said.