Comedy Quote by Mollie Gross
““I found myself surrounded by really old veterans wearing hats that said, "Retired Marine - SEMPER FI." These hats didn't appear to fit on their heads, but instead seemed to hover over them. At one point, I mistakenly tried to take the last box of crackers that a veteran also wanted. He started yelling, "I ran away from home at seventeen, lied about my age, and joined the Corps! I fought in World War II, Korea, and NAM! I have no cartilage in my right knee! It's bone-on-bone, but every morning I run six miles! I did not sacrifice my knee for this country to come here today and have you disrespect me at the commissary. Oooh-RAH!" I dropped the crackers and walked away.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: The Long Way Home, 1995
A veteran confronts a civilian for disrespect, highlighting pride, sacrifice, and the weight of service.
In simple terms: Veterans demand respect for their sacrifices.
Key Takeaway
Respect those who served.
Themes
pride
respect
military service
generational conflict
Mood
defiant
ironic
reflective
Type
narrative
anecdotal
When to use this quote
- commissary line
- military base
- public spaces
- intergenerational misunderstanding
Key Concepts
honor
identity
trauma
Questions to Reflect On
- How can civilians show genuine respect?
- What role does humor play in confronting tension?
A Different Perspective
Veterans may feel isolated, making dialogue difficult.
![“We got a commitment that 3 million nurses are going to be trained to better identify these signs [of PTSD], because, you know, when these troops come home and they become veterans and they go back into the civilian community, they're not always going through the VA system for medical care. They're…” quote by Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b2c/michelle-obama-518_care_we-got-a-commitment-that-3-million-nurse_135943.jpg)
