he was not given the same opportunities that men of a different color were given to serve his country, but on december 7, 1941, he would not be defined by the prejudice of other people. reporter: what miller did that day has been dramatized in the movie pearl harbor, but congresswoman edie bernice johnson, who grew up hearing stories about dorie miller, explained what it meant. in the days of real segregation, a black man from my hometown stepped up to help save america. reporter: three of miller s nieces were at today s ceremony, one of them, brenda haven, told us what today would mean to his mother. she would be so honored to know that someone is caring about her son because he left this world thinking nobody did. reporter: the name of the ship won t erase decades of prejudice and cruelty, but modly