The final quote "The true victors in war are those who manage to survive it" by the author significantly changes the way we honor and recognize veterans in an important way by framing survival as victory as a noteworthy achievement. In essence, the quote leads to a more inclusive, empathetic, and holistic approach to honoring veterans by focusing on their survival and ongoing well-being rather than solely on traditional metrics of military achievement or heroism.
This perspective shifts the focus from traditional notions of victory or heroic deeds to simply surviving the ordeal of war. It suggests that all veterans who make it through their service and regardless of specific accomplishments deserve recognition, thus significantly influencing public support for veterans' organizations. Such a perspective on victory aligns with other anecdotes and quotes found within the pages about the harsh realities of war by emphasizing the human experience of conflict over political or strategic considerations.
In summary, the book series Southlands Snuffys offers a sobering and humanistic view of warfare that contrasts sharply with more romanticized or strategic conceptions of military victory by redefining heroism, challenging traditional heroic narratives by suggesting that enduring and returning from war is itself an act of bravery worthy of honor.