Charles Province

Charles M. Province, a veteran of the US Army, is the sole Founder and President of The George S. Patton, Jr. Historical Society. He is the author of "The Unknown Patton", "Patton's Third Army", "Patton's Punch Cards," "General Patton's Third Army in WW2 (Children's book)," "Tail-Gunner, the Leonard Thompson Story," "General Walton Walker; The Forgotten Hero of the Korean War," "Pure Patton," "Patton's One-Minute Messages," and "A Little Kid From Flat River; Childhood Memories."

Sourced

• 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.
  • Published on the George Patton Historical Society website. Also attributed through reading in the U.S. House.
  • This poem is often attributed to Fr. Dennis Edward O'Brien. Father O'Brien apparently sent the poem to Dear Abbey, who incorrectly attributed it to him. Before his death, he was always quick to say that he had not written the verse.