“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Today’s post is easy. I am filled with gratitude for our servicemen past and present, and for their parents, children, and spouses. I am so thankful for their courage and selflessness, for the enormous sacrifices they have made on behalf of my family. I am thankful for their courage and sense of duty, and for the examples set by those of the older generation.
It is the Soldier
Father Dennis Edward O’Brien
It is the Soldier,
not the reporter, who has given us freedom of press.
It is the Soldier,
not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier,
not the campus organizer, who gives us freedom to demonstrate.
It is the Soldier
who salutes the flag,
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag.
I’m writing this post fairly late in the day and many, many others have expressed gratitude with words much more powerful than my own, so again I’ll just say “thank you” from the bottom of my heart.
I second that. Love the poem.