"Yeah, I volunteered to support the troops, and get out there and show them that we care about them"
About this Quote
The phrase “support the troops” is intentionally broad, almost institutional - the safest moral ground in American public life, especially post-9/11, when “support” became a kind of civic password. But he quickly narrows it: “get out there” shifts the idea from symbolic solidarity to physical proximity. He’s talking about showing up where the consequences live, not just donating, tweeting, or offering platitudes from a red carpet.
The subtext is twofold. First, it’s a corrective to cynicism about performative patriotism: if you’re going to claim you care, prove it in person. Second, it neatly sidesteps the politically radioactive question of the wars themselves. “Support the troops” can mean opposing a conflict while caring for the people sent to fight it, and the quote keeps that ambiguity intact. The “we” is doing a lot of work, too - he’s positioning himself as a conduit for civilian gratitude, translating a national sentiment into a face-to-face gesture.
It’s not lofty rhetoric; it’s strategic humility. In a culture that rewards spectacle, Sinise makes sincerity sound almost logistical: volunteer, go, show. That’s the point.
Quote Details
| Topic | Military & Soldier |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Sinise, Gary. (2026, January 17). Yeah, I volunteered to support the troops, and get out there and show them that we care about them. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/yeah-i-volunteered-to-support-the-troops-and-get-55273/
Chicago Style
Sinise, Gary. "Yeah, I volunteered to support the troops, and get out there and show them that we care about them." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/yeah-i-volunteered-to-support-the-troops-and-get-55273/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"Yeah, I volunteered to support the troops, and get out there and show them that we care about them." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/yeah-i-volunteered-to-support-the-troops-and-get-55273/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.


