I never served in the Military. The closest I came to was being a Naval ROTC cadet. But the first hand stories I heard from my grandparents about the American Soldiers during the Spanish-American war (Asiatic Fleet - under Commodore George Dewey) and again from my parents during WWII (Bataan and the infamous "Death March"), it was awe inspiring. They talked about the bravery, dicipline, camaraderie, and gentleness of the American fighting men. Words cannot suffice the sacrifice these men endured for freedom's sake.
And on this occasion I would like to offer this poem by USMC Chaplain Fr. Dennis O’Brien to the fighting men who served and are serving in the U.S. Armed forces (it couldn’t be more timely amidst the current bashing from the extreme left sadly living in this country):
FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE
It is the soldier, not the reporter
Who preserves the freedom of the press
And it is the soldier, not the poet
Who protects our freedom of speech
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer
Who puts his life on the line…to give others the freedom to demonstrate
And it is the SOLDIER
Who salutes the flag
Who serves beneath the flag
And whose coffin is draped by the Flag
Who protects the protesters right to burn the flag
Semper Fidelis
N-P
And on this occasion I would like to offer this poem by USMC Chaplain Fr. Dennis O’Brien to the fighting men who served and are serving in the U.S. Armed forces (it couldn’t be more timely amidst the current bashing from the extreme left sadly living in this country):
FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE
It is the soldier, not the reporter
Who preserves the freedom of the press
And it is the soldier, not the poet
Who protects our freedom of speech
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer
Who puts his life on the line…to give others the freedom to demonstrate
And it is the SOLDIER
Who salutes the flag
Who serves beneath the flag
And whose coffin is draped by the Flag
Who protects the protesters right to burn the flag
Semper Fidelis
N-P
