Former NYC Mayor Bloomberg on Colin Powell: 'We've all benefitted from his life'

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg told Just the News that former Secretary of State Colin Powell was "a great American and we've all benefitted from his life."

Powell's memorial service took place at the Washington National Cathedral on Friday. President Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, former President George W. Bush, former First Lady Laura Bush, former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama attended.

Other notable guests included former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, baseball legend Cal Ripken, Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Vice President Dick Cheney and more. 

"He was a great American and we've all benefitted from his life. It was really amazing what this guy did. I was lucky enough to know him. My thoughts go out to his family but to the whole country we've really lost somebody," Bloomberg said after the ceremony.

Debbie Allen, a Golden Globe Award winner, said the nation could learn from Powell.

"Respect, courage and humanity, that's who he was personified, amazing human being. I was privileged to know him," she said.