ARLINGTON, Virginia – Jeremiah Denton, an American hero from the Vietnam war and former Alabama senator, was laid to rest today in Arlington National Cemetery.

Jeremiah Denton being laid to rest 7.22.14 at Arlington National Cemetery (submitted photo)

Denton, a Mobile native, died on March 28 at the age of 89.

According to a statement from the office of U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, Denton was laid to rest with full military honors. Brooks joined Alabama Sens. Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby at the ceremony.

"I first met Admiral Jeremiah Denton while he served in the U.S. Senate and I served in the Alabama legislature," Brooks said in a statement released following the ceremony. "Admiral Denton was one of the finest patriots I have had the pleasure to meet. Admiral Denton's life exemplified the best of America. His patriotism and determination during his 7 years and 7 months in North Vietnamese captivity inspired fellow POWs and helped mend a war-torn nation.

"He was a remarkable man and I was fortunate to count him as a friend. It is truly fitting that Admiral Denton was today laid to rest in America's most hallowed ground, Arlington Cemetery, where he rests in peace with his comrades in arms. All Alabamians and Americans would do well to remember this selfless patriot and strive to carry on the values he cherished that have served our great nation so well for so long."

As a POW during the Vietnam War, Denton in a television interview blinked his eyes in Morse code repeatedly to spell T-O-R-T-U-R-E. Denton learned after the war that his message was the first indication to U.S. intelligence that prisoners were being tortured.

Denton served as U.S. senator from Alabama from 1981-87.