The following, written by Charles M. Province*, pretty well sums things up:
IT IS THE SOLDIER
It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Happy Veterans Day to all my comrades, active, reserve, retired ... and especially to those who
have crossed the bar. You are not forgotten.
*This is often attributed to Father D. E. O'Brien, USMC, but Mr. Province is the actual author. The mix-up seems to have come when Father O'Brien submitted this to Dear Abby and it was incorrectly attributed to him.
IT IS THE SOLDIER
It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Happy Veterans Day to all my comrades, active, reserve, retired ... and especially to those who
have crossed the bar. You are not forgotten.
*This is often attributed to Father D. E. O'Brien, USMC, but Mr. Province is the actual author. The mix-up seems to have come when Father O'Brien submitted this to Dear Abby and it was incorrectly attributed to him.
...Miss ya.
