It Is The Soldier
Charles M. Province
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.
About the Author
Charles M. Province
Charles grew up on his Grandpa's farm in a small mining town in Southeast Missouri. Following High School, he joined the U.S. Army and learned to operate the ancient "IBM Punch Card Machines" – the precursors to today's computers. He spent many years working for computer manufacturing companies such as DEC, CDC, and IBM. He worked for the Union-Tribune Newspaper in San Diego for forty years and was a computer science instructor in the San Diego Community College District. The subjects of his previous books include General George S. Patton, Jr., the Korean War, World War II, military history, and computer science. He is also an accomplished actor, author of stage plays, singer, and all-round entertainer. He owns a small publishing house that helps people publish family histories. Mr. Province is available for book readings, lectures, and other entertainment work.