CHARLES M. PROVINCE
IT IS THE SOLDIER
It is the Soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.
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 freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier, not the politician
Who has given us the right to vote.
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.
©Copyright 1970-2005 by Charles M. Province
Charles M. Province, a veteran of the US Army, is the sole and single Founder and President of The George S. Patton, Jr. Historical Society. He is the author of "The Unknown Patton", "Patton's Third Army", and "Patton's One-Minute Messages"
More details are displayed on his website, particularly at
http://www.pattonhq.com/koreamemorial.html where this poem is displayed.
General George S. Patton, Jr
Click on graphic to visit the website of
The George S. Patton, Jr, Historical Society
Webmaster's Note: Mr Charles M. Province has contacted me with the request that due credit be given to his authorship of the poem, "It Is The Soldier", which has, to my knowledge, for several years been attributed to Father Denis Edward OBrien, USMC. Mr Province has advised that Father O'Brien once sent a copy of the poem to "Dear Abby" and it was printed erroneously giving credit to Father O'Brien for writing it. It is at that point that the authorship became clouded, and I reproduce this information in the hope of ensuring Mr Province recieves full, appropriate and most deserved credit for his wonderful piece.