John and Barbara gave me this silver pendant for Christmas and the enclosed card explained it was designed to remember our troops. The words were written by Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, USMC.

It is a favorite of mine because I am very much for the Military. They go where we can never go, they see what we are spared from seeing, and many times without sleep or comfort, they do this so we can be free. Leaving families behind and living in strange places they are faithful to their task. I just hope we are faithful to keep them in our prayers, our thoughts and our gratitude.

This is what is on the folder:

The Soldier

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 the freedom of speech.

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

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

It is the soldier,
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.

Essentially Esther