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 gives us freedom of the press

It is the soldier,

Not the poet who has give us freedom of speech

It is the soldier,

Not the campus organizer who has given 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.

 

By Father Dennis O’Brien, USMC chaplain