I know Memorial Day is on Monday, but I won't be around a computer all day.  I wanted to take the time and say thank you to all our soldiers who have fought and died for our country; and thank you for keeping our nation strong.

The Troops

It is the Troops, not the minister
Who has given us freedom of religion.

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

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

It is the Troops, not the campus organizer,
who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

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

It is the Troops,
who salutes the flag,
who serves under the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag.


God Bless the Troops
1776 - 2010

I enjoyed the post. May I ask who first stated it and could I repeat the post on email to my military friends?

I am not the author and do not know who it is, wish I did know so I could give him/her credit.

I would think that the author would be pleased for anyone to repeat it via email or any means to as many people as you wish.


Thank you
1776 - 2010 and beyond.............

According to this linked article, Senator Zell Miller delivers the keynote address at the Republican convention in 2004 that said those words (with a substitution of "agitator" for "campus organizer" on who has given us the freedom to protest) "during his speech.

Whether Senator Miller wrote those words himself or was quoting from some other source is unknown to me.

Whomever is the original source though, very thought provoking and great and appropriate sentiments for this Memorial Day!

This is a heartfelt sentiment, and our troops have indeed earned the sincere gratitude of a sometimes ungrateful nation. But if the verse were literally true, we should get rid of ministers, reporters, poets, campus organizers, lawyers (maybe OK for this category!) and anyone who disagrees with government (protesters) -- we don't need them because we have the troops.
I'd agree that our troops have usually been magnificent, and deserve much more than our thanks, but I'd add that we need better leadership, both military and civilian so we don't send the troops -- many of them still kids and just starting life -- into  harm's way needlessly.  
These threads remind me that it's time to revisit the Vietnam Memorial -- I try to do it once a year but don't always make it -- talk to the guys if they're not too busy, and say again "thank you for your service to our country."

Missed the point.
It is literally true. Read it a few more times and think about it ...perhaps then you will see the point.

Oh and if we do not get to meet at the Vietnam Memorial, You're Welcome.

I may have a built-in resistance to facile ideas, although I freely acknowledge our debt to the troops but would express it differently.  I also have nothing against Zell Miller, who has been a successful politician, and also served in the Marines. Happy Memorial Day.

Thanks for the info Legman. I appreciate it greatly