Shillong, July 8 :    Shillong, July 8:  The body of Capt. Keishing Clifford Nongrum was laid to rest with full military honours at the Presbyterian Cemetery at Mawblei after the biggest-ever funeral service in the capital. A mammoth crowd gathered at the venue of the condolence function at the Fire Brigade ground under a sweltering sun from 10 am. They waited patiently till the Tricolour-draped coffin was picked up for the last time by the Army pall-bearers to be carried to the gun carriage for its final journey at 2.30 pm. The ground proved too small to accommodate the huge crowd which overflowed onto the roads and the nearby compounds and clambered atop buildings. Scores of people surged forward to walk to the cemetery in a procession. Top civilians, Army, Air Force, police and other paramilitary forces were present, as well as Governor M.M. Jacob, chief minister B.B. Lyngdoh and Speaker E.K. Mawlong. The sombre crowd roared in appreciation when Air Marshal Manjeet Sekhon, senior air staff officer speaking for the AOC-in-C Eastern Air Command said Capt. Nongrum had been sent to Kargil and died a martyr. ?Out of nine posts held by the enemy, Capt. Nongrum had personally helped to recapture four of them before he died. He was a brave son of India,? he said. The unprecedented outpouring of patriotism untapped by Capt. Nongrum?s sacrifice was evident when the president of the Seng Samla Demthring, (a youth organisation) J. Shylla confessed that Capt. Nongrum?s sacrifice had ?opened our eyes to the right path for the youth to follow; for Meghalaya, for India.? The Captain?s father, K. Peter said he was overwhelmed by the emotional support from the thousands of people and organisations. Special thanks were given to Lt. Vikas Hoda of the 12 J&K Light Infantry who escorted the mortal remains of his son back home. ?I will never forget the young boy,? he added. Putting aside his personal grief, 50-year-old Peter called on the youth to take his son?s sacrifice as an example ?to live and die for our motherland.? He wished many more boys would join the Army. Asked if she regretted allowing her son to join the Army, Capt. Nongrum?s 42-year-old mother, Sally, said her grief had been overshadowed by an overwhelming sense of pride and honour. ?I have seen for the first time that all the people of Shillong have become one through my son?s sacrifice, I am happy for that,? she said. She also said her son?s sacrifice for the motherland had opened the way for a new wave of nationalism and patriotism. All shopping centres, schools, state government offices were closed for the day in honour of the first Kargil martyr from the state.