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 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.

By Father Dennis O'Brien

Chaplain

United States Marines