Friday, May 22, 2009

Let Us Remember

It Is The Soldier
by
Charles Michael Province, U.S. Army

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.

Find a quiet moment
to visit here.

Yes, there were other wars,
and other branches of the military;
not to slight them,
but I have a son in this one.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful and sad because it reminds me of the day I watched soldiers in full dress visit my neighbors with the news that they're son had been killed. I cried myself to sleep that night.

xo-jj

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

...And we will remember.

Thank you. Thank you.

Wendy said...

Aw, brings tears to my eyes.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Beautifully said. God bless your precious son. Thanks for coming to visit the pink life and relax a bit with some tea or champagne! Take care sweet one, Anita

Ces Adorio said...

Moreover I must say that it is not just any soldier BUT the AMERICAN soldier. It was the American soldier who gave my birth country it's freedom from the invading and terrorizing Japanese and Koreans during World War II and the Korean war. Yes. Damn right it is so! It is the soldier who makes this great nation of ours great and the more we neglect the men and women of the armed forces, the weaker our nation becomes. They are unsung and forgotten and no one talks about them until a few of them make mistakes and break their code of honor and then everyone wants to ride tha band wagon and condemn all of them just because a handful lost their purpose.

Deborah said...

Oh how I love you, Ces!

Just A Girl said...

No words were ever better written. Our American soldiers do what we could only dream of doing. Laying down their lives for our freedom.

Xoxo Cori

KeKe said...

You have every right to be proud!! I'll be thinking of you and your son on this Memorial Day...along with all the other brave men & women who have served and continue to serve.

Enjoy your weekend!

Silke Powers said...

Oh, what beautiful words and so true! Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such a sweet comment! I'll have to come back and read more in you great blog! Hope you are having a good weekend! Silke

Ces Adorio said...

I thought of you and PFC Ryan today. Tell your son, someone is very greatful for his services. May God bless him and his angels keep watch over him all the time and May God bless you and your family. Thank you for all your sacrifices.

Renee said...

God hear my prayer.

Please bless all soldiers and one very special soldier in particular.

A soldier named Ryan who has a mother named Deborah who loves him very very much.

Ryan has a sister and a father who love him very much too.

God hear my prayer.

xoxoxo

Kjohnson said...

Been out of town and just caught up on your blog. Beautiful posts Miss Deborah! I am excited to see you in a few days!

Andrea said...

So beautiful and powerfully moving. Deborah, may God bless your precious son and keep him in His tender loving care.

I'm so glad I dropped in this evening.

Andrea

Sarah Sullivan said...

Deborah it is lovely to meet you too!! I do adore Renee! Bless your son and I will keep him in my prayers!! A Beautiful poem - love all of you pictures too!!
I lived in Scottsdale for years and have a sis in Tucson. I don't miss the heat - but the way the desert smells when it rains - I do miss that!!
Have a great day. Blessings, Sarah

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Deborah, I'd like to join in Renee's prayer...Dear God Please bless, Ryan and keep him safe from ALL harm. Thank you for his service and God, please bring him home to his family as soon as possible because I know he is so loved and very much missed.
Love to you and your beautiful family!
Susan