It is the Soldier
It is the soldier, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the 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, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the soldier,
who salutes the flag, who
serves under the flag, and whose coffin is
draped by the flag, who allows the
protester to burn the flag.
-Dennis Edward O’Brien
Dennis Edward O’Brien was born on 8 October 1923 in Dallas, Texas, United States of America. Mr. O’Brien served in the United States Marine Corp in World War 2. He was ordained a priest on 13 June 1953 and served in Africa, Mexico, and the United States of America. He eventually became a chaplain, with the title Father, in the United States Marine Corps (USMC). Dennis Edward O’Brien passed on at 78 years of age on 29 August 2002.
It is the soldier, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the 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, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the soldier,
who salutes the flag, who
serves under the flag, and whose coffin is
draped by the flag, who allows the
protester to burn the flag.
-Dennis Edward O’Brien
Dennis Edward O’Brien was born on 8 October 1923 in Dallas, Texas, United States of America. Mr. O’Brien served in the United States Marine Corp in World War 2. He was ordained a priest on 13 June 1953 and served in Africa, Mexico, and the United States of America. He eventually became a chaplain, with the title Father, in the United States Marine Corps (USMC). Dennis Edward O’Brien passed on at 78 years of age on 29 August 2002.
4 Comments
This poem was written and copyrighted by my father, Charles M. Province, Founder and President of The George S. Patton, Jr. Historical Society.
I was going through my Father ‘s papers and found the poem . I put it on Facebook . It told of Fr Denis wrote it . My Father had saved the poem and underlined the It is Soldier parts !! He was a prisoner of WW11. For three and a half years … what he told me was all that he could think about was the American Flag . This poem sure hits today that needed to be put out there . Hope I didn’t offend anyone . I love this Never Forget Nov 11
I'd love to use this poem in my book about my time during our generations wars, with your permision...
Contact me at my email and I will explain copyright requirements to use my poem. C. M. Province.
