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 PREACHER,
WHO HAS GIVEN US FREEDOM OF RELIGION.
IT IS THE SOLDIER, NOT THE CAMPUS ORGANIZER,
WHO HAS
GIVEN US THE FREEDOM TO
DEMONSTRATE.
IT IS THE SOLDIER
WHO SALUTES THE FLAG,
WHO
SERVES BENEATH THEFLAG,
WHOSE COFFIN IS DRAPED WITH THE FLAG,
WHO ALLOWS THE PROTESTER
TO BURN THE FLAG.
GOD AND THE SOLDIER WE ADORE IN TIME OF DANGER, NOT BEFORE.
ALL THINGS PASSED AND ALL THINGS RIGHTED.
GOD IS FORGOTTEN AND THE SOLDIER SLIGHTED.
~Father Dennis O'Brien~USMC
This poem was read at the
Veteran's Day service which we
attended where our son sleeps in peace.
