What do you think I fought for at Omaha Beach? Whitman College Chamber Singers

What do you think I fought for at Omaha Beach?

PHILLIP SPOONER'S TESTIMONY (excerpted) and TEXT FOR WHAT DO YOU THINK I FOUGHT FOR AT OMAHA BEACH?

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 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.

A YouTube clip of Spooner's testimony can be found at    • Philip Spooner - www.EqualityMaine.org  


Whitman Chamber Singers
April 24, 2011
Composer Melissa Dunphy
Conductor Jeremy Mims