Jim opened this edition of Crosstalk with some historical information on Veterans Day from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website as well as from author Bill Federer. After this, he quoted the following poem from 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.'

This is the backdrop that Jim established before letting Crosstalk listeners present their thanks and remembrances to those who have honorably served in America's armed forces.