A brave man leaves us

RIP Bill Millin, the man who achieved well-deserved fame for playing his pipes on Sword Beach, June 6, 1944.  The bravest of the brave, perhaps.

Here's the best quote from the story.  When Lord Lovat asked him to play, Millin initially refused, because regulations forbade it.  Here's the terrific but brief story:

"....When Private Millin demurred, citing the regulations, he recalled later, Lord Lovat replied: “Ah, but that’s the English War Office. You and I are both Scottish, and that doesn’t apply.”


Thanks to Mr. Millin for his courage and the inspiration he provided to men who needed it that day.  And I hope to someday see him in heaven.  I'm pretty sure he'll be there, and I hope he pipes me ashore then.