function validateContactForm() {

	var theForm = document.getElementById("contactForm"); //form reference

	var valid = true; //flag, must be true to proceed


	if (theForm.first_name.value == "") {

		
		alert ("Please enter your first name");

		valid = false;

		theForm.first_name.focus();

	
	} else if (theForm.last_name.value == "") {


		alert ("Please enter your last name");

		valid = false;
		
		theForm.last_name.focus();

	

	} else if (theForm.email.value == "") {

		alert ("Please enter your email address");

		valid = false;

		theForm.email.focus();
		
		
	} else if (theForm.confirm_email.value == "") {

		alert ("Please confirm your email address");

		valid = false;

		theForm.confirm_email.focus();
	

	} else if (theForm.message.value == "") {


		alert ("Please enter your message");

		valid = false;

		theForm.message.focus();

	}

	if (valid == true) {
		
		return true; //submit form
		
	} else {
		
		return false; //form invalid
		
	}
	

	if ( ereg( "[\r\n]", $first_name ) || ereg( "[\r\n]", $last_name ) || ereg( "[\r\n]", $email ) || ereg( "[\r\n]", $confirm_email ) ) {

	
		alert ("You may only enter one email");
	
		valid = false; //prevents spammers from entering mutliple emails into form

	} 

}