Saying goodbye to a national hero Published Dec. 12, 2009 By Tech. Sgt. Joe Davidson 452 AMW Public Affairs MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. -- The words, Medal of Honor Memorial could be the title of a book. Here, they appear in bold letters on a giant polished granite slab that could be the cover of that book. Not more than 20 feet away is what would be the first page of that book: a second, equally massive slab of granite. On it, in similar bold letters, a dedication reads, For Conspicuous Gallantry and Intrepidity at the Risk of Life Above and Beyond the Call of Duty. A crowd of more than 500 people has gathered at this book-shaped memorial at the Riverside National Cemetery to remember Army Col. (Ret.) Lewis L. Millett, a Medal of Honor recipient. Judging by the number of people attending the memorial service, he was a well-known soldier. Judging by the crowd's reverence, he was a hero not only for his many decorations, but for his sense of duty and his actions in what he thought was right. Col. Millett, a veteran of three wars, was 88 years old when he passed away November 14. During the Korean War in February, 1951, then Capt. Millett led a fixed bayonet counterattack where he and his men charged forward to take a hill and engaged in hand-to-hand combat, killing a number of the enemy. They successfully took the hill and Capt. Millett was injured by hand grenade shrapnel. In July of the same year, President Harry Truman awarded Capt. Millett the Congressional Medal of Honor, America's highest military honor, for this heroic act of selflessness. At the memorial service, six pallbearers carry Col. Millett's casket to the church truck in front of the Medal of Honor Memorial as a bagpipe and drum corps end a rendition of "Scotland the Brave" and a cannon fires from a hill nearby. His memorial service would be fitting for a person of national significance. But as a soldier, hero, husband, father and friend of many, his stature is of that level. Long time friend and Master of Ceremonies for Col. Millett's service, Michael Goldware begins his remarks saying, "What a great day, what a sad day. It's a great day because you and I get to enjoy freedoms and liberties that are virtually unheard of in many places around the world and we get to do so in the greatest country on the face of this earth." "It's a sad day because we must say goodbye. The Millett family is saying goodbye to a beloved family member. The Army is saying goodbye to one of its greatest warriors, a warrior of the first magnitude. The country is saying goodbye to a legitimate national hero." As a bugler plays "Taps," the honor guard folds the American flag covering the casket of Col. Millett with military precision and presents it to the members of the Millett family. Many guests speak powerful words at the service. Toward the conclusion, Lewis Millett, Jr., reads a prayer his father wrote titled, "An Old Soldier's Prayer." As the pipe and drum corps begins to play "Amazing Grace," four helicopters fly over in a tribute to Col Millett. The memorial service ends as "Amazing Grace" finishes and the family follows the casket of their loved one to a private graveside service.