“Greater love has no one than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends.”

It is the
VETERAN,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is
the VETERAN,
not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the
VETERAN who
salutes the Flag,

It is the
VETERAN
who serves
under the Flag.

It is the
VETERAN
whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester
to burn the flag.

Thank God for the VETERAN.

Adapted from the writing of
Father Denis Edward O’Brien, USMC