Pentagon Honors Nunn With Big Sendoff

The Pentagon paid tribute to one of its great supporters and keen critics Friday, giving Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., a full military send-off in his last year in the Senate.

“He leaves a magnificent legacy of wisdom, tenacity, vision and patriotism,” Defense Secretary William Perry said in a ceremony outside the Pentagon. “Thanks to his efforts, we now have the best force in our history and the best force in the world.”

Honor guards punctuated the event with a 19-gun salute and Perry pinned the Defense Department’s medal for distinguished public service on Nunn’s lapel.