My yearly post:
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.
*This is often attributed to Father D. E. O'Brien, USMC, but Mr. Charles 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.
Happy Veterans Day to all my comrades, active, reserve, retired ... and especially to those who
have crossed the bar. You are not forgotten.
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.
*This is often attributed to Father D. E. O'Brien, USMC, but Mr. Charles 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.
Happy Veterans Day to all my comrades, active, reserve, retired ... and especially to those who
have crossed the bar. You are not forgotten.