Colonel and Ruthie in “The Known Soldier”

I didn't want you to hear it on the news, hon. I wanted to come and tell you myself, face-to-face.

Ruthie

Well, who's gonna tell Sergeant Morgan's wife? Who's gonna tell Theresa? And who's gonna explain it to their son, Alex? Alex is only five years old! That little boy's probably never even heard of Afghanistan!

No, probably not. But I'm pretty sure he has heard of the United States of America. That's the country his father died for. The United States of America, and he died in an effort to keep freedom alive for his son and his wife, and all his family, and for all the sons and daughters and mothers and fathers in this country. He died for me, and he died for you.

Ruthie

But I didn't want him to die.

He was a Marine. He died with honor.