--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the middle of the cavernous cargo hold…" description: "\"In the middle of the cavernous cargo hold was a simple, aluminum coffin with a small American flag draped over it. We were bringing another American so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/anonymous-1_aluminum_in-the-middle-of-the-cavernous-cargo-hol_2339391.jpg" --- # In the middle of the cavernous cargo hold was a simple… ![“In the middle of the cavernous cargo hold was a simple, aluminum coffin with a small American flag draped over it. We were bringing another American soldier, just killed, home to his family and final resting place. The starkness of his coffin in the center of the hold, the silence except for the…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/anonymous-1_aluminum_in-the-middle-of-the-cavernous-cargo-hol_2339391.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/anonymous-1_aluminum_in-the-middle-of-the-cavernous-cargo-hol_2339391.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fce/anonymous-1_aluminum_in-the-middle-of-the-cavernous-cargo-hol_2339391.jpg) > “In the middle of the cavernous cargo hold was a simple, aluminum coffin with a small American flag draped over it. We were bringing another American soldier, just killed, home to his family and final resting place. The starkness of his coffin in the center of the hold, the silence except for the din of the engines, was a real time cold reminder of the consequences of decisions for which we Senators share responsibility.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing a soldier’s coffin in a cargo hold starkly illustrates the human cost of political decisions. **In simple terms:** War decisions have real human consequences. Key Takeaway Remember the human impact of policy. Themes war responsibility politics Mood somber thoughtful Type political memorial When to use this quote - military transport - policy debate - family mourning Key Concepts ethics human cost Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do leaders have to those they send to war? - How can we honor fallen soldiers while seeking peace? A Different Perspective The anecdote may oversimplify complex geopolitics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American flag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-flag/) [American soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-soldier/) [Coffins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffins/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Flags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flags/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) ## Related quotes > [We call Japanese soldiers fanatics when they die rather than surrender, whereas American soldiers who do the same thing are called heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-call-japanese-soldiers-fanatics-when-they-die-rather-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That was not the biggest battle that ever was, but for me it always typified one thing; the dash, the ingenuity, the readiness at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-was-not-the-biggest-battle-that-ever-was-but-for-me-it-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When life's flight is over, and we unload our cargo at the other end, the fellow who got rid of unnecessary weight will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-life-s-flight-is-over-and-we-unload-our-cargo-at-the-other-end/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The reason we are doing these types of pat downs and using the advanced imagery technology is trying to take the latest intelligence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-reason-we-are-doing-these-types-of-pat-downs-and-using-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mr. Speaker, Delaware River's regional ports handle approximately 58 million tons of cargo yearly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mr-speaker-delaware-river-s-regional-ports-handle-approximately-58/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dexter thrust a pamphlet into Samuel's hand. "Greenstreet Mission. We're doing a Christmas dinner. You can get a meal and hear the word of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-huff/dexter-thrust-a-pamphlet-into-samuel-s-hand-greenstreet-mission-we-re/) [Tanya Huff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-huff/) > [In America, one of the biggest problems we have with China is the illegal dumping of steel and aluminum into our markets. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/in-america-one-of-the-biggest-problems-we-have-with-china-is-the/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I grew up on comic books. 'X-Men' was my favorite team; Wolverine was my guy. At 8 years old, I dressed up as Wolverine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tee/i-grew-up-on-comic-books-x-men-was-my-favorite-team-wolverine-was-my/) [Brian Tee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tee/) > [Meat!" he said scornfully. "I'm a vegetarian." You eat cheese enchiladas and aluminum cans," I reminded him. Those are vegetables.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/meat-he-said-scornfully-i-m-a-vegetarian-you-eat-cheese-enchiladas/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I struck out with two men on base. I was so angry, so frustrated, I turned and without even thinking about it, snapped my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-jackson/i-struck-out-with-two-men-on-base-i-was-so-angry-so-frustrated-i/) [Bo Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-jackson/) > [What do you call that nice, shiny white metal they use to make sidings and airplanes out of? Aluminum, right? Aluminum, pronounced 'uh-LOO-mih-num', right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/what-do-you-call-that-nice-shiny-white-metal-they-use-to-make-sidings/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [My father is the Hollywood equivalent of a clean, fillet-brazed frame. My brother is like one of those fat-tubed aluminum Cannondales. I'm more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilio-estevez/my-father-is-the-hollywood-equivalent-of-a-clean-fillet-brazed-frame/) [Emilio Estevez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilio-estevez/) > [Unlike conventional jocks, who tend to sell aluminum siding and give canned speeches to parochial-school athletic banquets in the off-season, race drivers never shuck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-yates/unlike-conventional-jocks-who-tend-to-sell-aluminum-siding-and-give/) [Brock Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-yates/) > [Every factory must be a school to educate, like Che Guevara said, to produce not only briquettes, steel, and aluminum, but also, above all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/every-factory-must-be-a-school-to-educate-like-che-guevara-said-to/) [Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/) > [You're from where?" "Lay'en. It's near Salt Lake City." "Spell that for me." "Um, that would be S-A-L-T-" "No, the other one. The city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/you-re-from-where-lay-en-it-s-near-salt-lake-city-spell-that-for-me/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Aluminum quotes > [You're from where?" "Lay'en. It's near Salt Lake City." "Spell that for me." "Um, that would be S-A-L-T-" "No, the other one. The city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/you-re-from-where-lay-en-it-s-near-salt-lake-city-spell-that-for-me/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [Every factory must be a school to educate, like Che Guevara said, to produce not only briquettes, steel, and aluminum, but also, above all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugo-chavez/every-factory-must-be-a-school-to-educate-like-che-guevara-said-to/) [Hugo Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugo-chavez/) > [Unlike conventional jocks, who tend to sell aluminum siding and give canned speeches to parochial-school athletic banquets in the off-season, race drivers never shuck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-yates/unlike-conventional-jocks-who-tend-to-sell-aluminum-siding-and-give/) [Brock Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-yates/) > [My father is the Hollywood equivalent of a clean, fillet-brazed frame. My brother is like one of those fat-tubed aluminum Cannondales. I'm more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilio-estevez/my-father-is-the-hollywood-equivalent-of-a-clean-fillet-brazed-frame/) [Emilio Estevez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilio-estevez/) > [What do you call that nice, shiny white metal they use to make sidings and airplanes out of? Aluminum, right? Aluminum, pronounced 'uh-LOO-mih-num', right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/what-do-you-call-that-nice-shiny-white-metal-they-use-to-make-sidings/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [I struck out with two men on base. I was so angry, so frustrated, I turned and without even thinking about it, snapped my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-jackson/i-struck-out-with-two-men-on-base-i-was-so-angry-so-frustrated-i/) [Bo Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-jackson/) > [Meat!" he said scornfully. "I'm a vegetarian." You eat cheese enchiladas and aluminum cans," I reminded him. Those are vegetables.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/meat-he-said-scornfully-i-m-a-vegetarian-you-eat-cheese-enchiladas/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I grew up on comic books. 'X-Men' was my favorite team; Wolverine was my guy. At 8 years old, I dressed up as Wolverine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tee/i-grew-up-on-comic-books-x-men-was-my-favorite-team-wolverine-was-my/) [Brian Tee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tee/) > [In America, one of the biggest problems we have with China is the illegal dumping of steel and aluminum into our markets. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/in-america-one-of-the-biggest-problems-we-have-with-china-is-the/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Dexter thrust a pamphlet into Samuel's hand. "Greenstreet Mission. We're doing a Christmas dinner. You can get a meal and hear the word of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-huff/dexter-thrust-a-pamphlet-into-samuel-s-hand-greenstreet-mission-we-re/) [Tanya Huff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-huff/) > [Do you know my dream? I really want to become an aluminum-siding salesman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/do-you-know-my-dream-i-really-want-to-become-an-aluminum-siding/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Wrap the turkey up in aluminum foil, my brother like to masturbate with baby oil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/wrap-the-turkey-up-in-aluminum-foil-my-brother-like-to-masturbate/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) > [“Aluminum occupies nearly ten percent of Earth’s crust yet was unknown to the ancients and unfamiliar to our great-grandparents. The element was not isolated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/aluminum-occupies-nearly-ten-percent-of-earth-s-crust-yet-was-unknown/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [We bombarded aluminum with alpha rays … then after a certain period of irradiation, we removed the source of alpha rays. We now observed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fr-d-ric-joliot-curie/we-bombarded-aluminum-with-alpha-rays-then-after-a-certain-period-of/) Frederic Joliot-Curie > [The insecticides kill the black flies, but also destroy much of the food chain for the bird, fish, and animal life which also inhabit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-laduke/the-insecticides-kill-the-black-flies-but-also-destroy-much-of-the/) [Winona LaDuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-laduke/) Browse all 50 Aluminum quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the middle of the cavernous cargo hold was a simple, aluminum coffin with a small American flag draped over it. We were bringing another American soldier, just killed, home to his family and final resting place. 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