It's the soldier...

It's the soldier, not the reporter who has given us Freedom of the Press.

It's the soldier, not the poet, who has given us Freedom of Speech.

It's the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the Freedom to Demonstrate.

It's the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the Right to a Fair Trial.

It's the soldier who salutes the flag,

serves under the flag

and whose coffin is draped by the flag,

Who gives the protester the right to burn the flag.

~~Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC