Good morning, committee.,
My name is Phillip Spooner and I live at 5 Graham Street in Biddeford. 
I am 86 years old 
and a lifetime Republican and an active VFW chaplain … 
I was born on a potato farm north of Caribou and Perham, 
where I was raised to believe that all men are created equal 
and I've never forgotten that.

I served in the U.S. Army, 1942-1945 … 
I worked with every outfit over there, including Patton's Third Army. 
I saw action in all five major battles in Europe … 
I was in the liberation of Paris.

(I have seen much, so much blood and guts, so much suffering, 
much sadness, much sacrifice.)

I am here today because of a conversation I had last June 
when I was voting. A woman … asked me, 
"Do you believe in equality for gay and lesbian people?" 
I was pretty surprised to be asked a question like that. 
It made no sense to me. Finally I asked her, 
"What do you think I fought for at Omaha Beach?"

For freedom and equality. 
These are the values that make America a great nation, 
one worth dying for.

My wife and I did not raise four sons with the idea 
that our gay son would be left out. 
We raised them all to be hard-working, proud, and loyal Americans 
and they all did good.