Homecoming Marine wanted to show partner his love

HONOLULU (AP) ? Sgt. Brandon Morgan didn’t expect to become a global phenomenon when he kissed his partner upon returning from deployment in Afghanistan.

But last weekend a friend posted of photo of their embrace on the Gay Marines page on Facebook. A large American flag is in the background.

Photos of exuberant servicemen and homecomings aren’t new. But this one is among the first showing a gay active duty serviceman in uniform kissing his partner at a homecoming.

More than 40,000 people have clicked the “like” button for the photo on Facebook, and thousands have shared it with their friends on several social media sites.

The 25-year-old from Oakdale, Calif. said it was “a great moment in history” but he really just wanted to show his love to Dalan Wells.