“The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten” is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying is usually credited to American attorney and politician Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), and has been popularly used on Memorial Day.
 
“The free nation which forgets its defenders, should perish from the earth” was printed in the Portland (ME) Daily Press on May 31, 1884. “The nation which forgets its defenders has small excuse for existence” was printed in The Free Press (Streator, IL) on June 2, 1904. “The nation which forgets its defenders will soon find itself without defenders” was printed in The Evening Star (Washington, DC) on May 30, 1910.
 
“The nation which forgets its defenders will soon be forgotten” was printed in The Evening Herald (Fall River, MA) and other newspapers on July 27, 1920. Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge was referring to those who had served in World War I in his speech accepting the Republican nomination for vice president.
 
     
Wikipedia: Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge (born John Calvin Coolidge Jr.; /ˈkuːlɪdʒ/; July 4, 1872 – January 5, 1933) was an American attorney and politician who served as the 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929.
   
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31 May 1884, Portland (ME) Daily Press, “Memorial Day,” pg. 1, col. 7:
(Spoken by Rev. Mr. Daniels.—ed.)
“So long as freedom lives, the Union solider slain will be in our memories, making us truer and better men. The free nation which forgets its defenders, should perish from the earth.”
 
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2 June 1904, The Free Press (Streator, IL), pg. 4, col. 1:
Memorial Day has come to be the one particular day of the year on which patriotism is the theme of the orator, the poet and the writer. The deeds of valor, patient endurance, suffering and devotion to the cause of liberty and equity are recounted on this day to the advantage of all who give heed thereunto. The nation which forgets its defenders has small excuse for existence.
 
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30 May 1910, The Evening Star (Washington, DC), “Tribute Is Paid in Nation’s Capital to Memory of Solider Dead,” pg. 10, col. 7:
Senator Brown (Senator Norris Brown of Nebraska.—ed.) said, with other things:
 
“This is a day sacred to the memory of our country’s heroes. The nation which forgets its defenders will soon find itself without defenders because to forget them is to forget the lessons they taught and the things they stood for To forget them is to forget the highest ideals of a patriotic people. No people can advance and at the same time lose devotion to their ideals.”
 
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27 July 1920, The Evening Herald (Fall River, MA), “Coolidge Notified of His Nomination,” pg. 3, cols. 3-4:
(Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge gives an acceptance speech for the Republican nomination for vice president.—ed.)
“Whenever in the future this nation undertakes to asses its strength and resources, the largest item will be the roll of those who served her in every patriotic capacity in the world war. (...) They have conquered the claim to suitable recognition in all things. The nation which forgets its defenders will soon be forgotten.”
 
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The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.          Calvin Coolidge
(The saying is also shown engraved on a bench.—ed.)
10:27 AM · Oct 24, 2019
 
The Patriot Post
MAY 30, 2024
Never Forgotten
(The following text is shown on an image.—ed.)
The nation which forgets
its defenders
will itself
be forgotten.
Calvin Coolidge