REMEMBER IT WAS A VETERAN, NOT THE REPORTER,
WHO GAVE US THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.

IT WAS THE VETERAN, NOT THE POET,
WHO GAVE US FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

IT WAS A VETERAN, NOT THE LAWYER,
WHO GAVE US THE RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL.

IT WAS THE VETERAN, NOT THE CAMPUS ORGANIZER,
WHO GAVE US THE FREEDOM TO DEMONSTRATE.

IT IS THE VETERAN, WHO SALUTES THE FLAG,
SERVES UNDER THE FLAG,

AND WHOSE COFFIN IS DRAPED WITH THE FLAG,
THAT ALLOWS PROTESTERS TO BURN THE FLAG.

ALL GAVE SOME.  SOME GAVE ALL.

 

paraphrased from the writings of Father Denis Edward O'Brien, USMC