Meet Philip Spooner, a true American hero.
You can read this, but I’d urge going to the page and watching the video. If you’re not in tears by the end, check your pulse.
Damn. Just…damn.
I’ve started transcribing it, but I have to run off. I’ll finish it later:
[QUOTE=Philip Spooner]
Good morning committee.
My name is Philip Spooner and I live at 5 Grand St. in Bitterford. I am 86 years old adult, a lifetime Republican and an active VFW chaplain. I still serve three hospitals and two nursing homes and I also serve Meals on Wheels for nine years.
My wife of 54 years, Jenny, died in 1997. Together we have four children including one gay son. All four of our boys were in the service.
I was born on a potato farm north of [unclear] where I was raised to believe that all men were created equal, and I’ve never forgotten that.
I served in the U.S. Army 1942 to 1945, in the First Army as a medic and an ambulance driver. I worked with every outfit over there including Patton’s Third Army. I saw action in all five major battles in Europe including the Battle of the Bulge. My unit was awarded a presidential citation for transporting more patients with fewer accidents than any other ambulance unit in Europe. I was in the liberation of Paris. After the war I carried POWs back from Poland Hungary and Yugoslavia and also hauled hundreds of injured Germans back to Germany.
I’m here today because of a conversation I had last June when I was voting.A woman at my polling place asked me, “Do you believe in equal…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 our boys fought for at Omaha Beach?” (Applause and cheering)
I’ve seen much…so much blood and guts, so much suffering, much sacrifice. For what? For freedom and equality. These are the values that give America a great nation, one worth dying for.
I give talks to these great teachers about World War II and I don’t tell them about the horror… maybe I [unclear] the ovens at Buchenwald Dachau…
[/QUOTE]
I’ll finish it this evening. In the meantime, please watch the video.
I finished my transcription.
My name is Philip Spooner and I live at 5 Grand St. in Bitterford (?). I am 86 years old adult, a lifetime Republican and an active VFW chaplain. I still serve three hospitals and two nursing homes and I also serve Meals on Wheels for nine years.
My wife of 54 years, Jenny, died in 1997. Together we have four children including one gay son. All four of our boys were in the service.
I was born on a potato farm north of [unclear] where I was raised to believe that all men were created equal, and I’ve never forgotten that.
I served in the U.S. Army 1942 to 1945, in the First Army as a medic and an ambulance driver. I worked with every outfit over there including Patton’s Third Army. I saw action in all five major battles in Europe including the Battle of the Bulge. My unit was awarded a presidential citation for transporting more patients with fewer accidents than any other ambulance unit in Europe. I was in the liberation of Paris. After the war I carried POWs back from Poland Hungary and Yugoslavia and also hauled hundreds of injured Germans back to Germany.
I’m here today because of a conversation I had last June when I was voting.A woman at my polling place asked me, “Do you believe in equal, 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 our boys fought for at Omaha Beach?” (Applause and cheering)
I have seen much, so much blood and guts, so much suffering, much sacrifice. For what? For freedom and equality. These are the values that give America a great nation, one worth dying for.
I give talks to these great teachers about World War II and I don’t tell them about the horror… maybe I [unclear] the ovens at Buchenwald Dachau. I’ve seen with my own eyes the consequences of caste systems, and of making some people less than others or second class. Never again.
We must have equal rights for everyone, it’s what this country was started for. It takes all kinds of people make a world [war?]. It makes no sense that some people who love each other can marry and others can’t just because of who they are. This is what we fought for in World War II, the idea that we can be different but still be equal.
My wife and I did not raise four sons with the idea that three of them would have a certain set of rights, but our gay child would be left out. We raised them all to be hard-working, proud and loyal Americans… and they all did good.
I think that those who love each other and want to get married, they should be able to. Everybody supposed to be equal… equality in this country.
Let gay people have the right to marry. Thank you.
Beautiful.
Kudos to Mr. Spooner.
I don’t throw out the “God bless” thing too often, but … God bless Philip Spooner!!!
Just for the esoteric record, Mr. Spooner grew up north of Caribou, Maine. He also lives in Biddeford, ME. Dude lives down the street from me! Congrats Sir. ((Vote no On 1))
But if we give equal rights to gays, then soon everybody will want equal rights!
Something in my eye there. Especially when he said “They all did good.”
Thank you for that information. Not being from Maine, I didn’t understand the locations he mentioned.
The part of Mr. Spooner’s remarks that really hit me in the gut was this part:
[QUOTE=Philip Spooner]
My wife and I did not raise four sons with the idea that three of them would have a certain set of rights, but our gay child would be left out. We raised them all to be hard-working, proud and loyal Americans… and they all did good.
[/QUOTE]
That is all any son wants to hear from his father - that he “did good”.
I miss Republicans like Philip Spooner, who actually believe that the government should stay the hell out of people’s lives - especially their bedrooms.