It is the soldier, not the President, who gives us a democratic republic. It is the soldier, not Congress, who protects us. It is the soldier, not the journalist, who gives us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who gives us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives 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.

God bless the men and women in our Armed Forces everywhere.

Written by Father Dennis O'Brien, Chaplain, U.S. Marine Corps.

Edited & typeset by Bob Ford