It Has Always Been the Soldier

Many forget what we owe to the men who wear the uniforms of our armed forces. And some choose to denigrate their service to this nation. Many group demonstratate against these men, some accuse them of crimes. Some great universities will not allow organizations associated with them on campus and some of the left even spit on these returning heros. But it is to these few, to these men, to these heros that we owe everything: Found this poem at Political Wonk

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SOLDIER

It is the soldier,
not the President who gives us democracy.

It is the soldier,
not the Congress who takes care of us.

It is the soldier,
not the Reporter who has given us Freedom of Press.

It is the soldier,
not the Poet who has given us Freedom of Speech.

It is the soldier,
not the campus [community] Organizer who
has given us the Freedom to Demonstrate.

It is the soldier,
who salutes the flag;
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
that allows the protester to burn the flag.

Father Dennis O’Brien, US Marine Corp. Chaplain