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D-Day veteran's speech on gay marriage is YouTube hit

He says in the video that he fought for equality at Omaha Beach. At the time of writing, the YouTube clip has received over 66,000 views.

Mr Spooner, a chaplain of the Veterans of Foreign Wars organisation, addressed the Maine Judiciary Committee in April.

The video shows the veteran addressing the committee in a faltering voice, saying: “Good morning committee. My name is Philip Spooner. I am 86 years old and a lifetime Republican.” ...

... His voice cracking, he says that he saw too much suffering and sacrifice for equality during the Second World War.

Citing the ovens at Buchenwald and Dachau, he says: “I have seen with my own eyes the consequence of a caste system 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.”
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)