John McCain Funeral, Burial Details At Naval Academy

ANNAPOLIS, MD — After a national memorial service Saturday celebrating the life of Sen. John McCain at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., a small private funeral and burial service for the Vietnam War hero, former GOP presidential nominee and statesman will be held Sunday, Sept. 2, at his beloved U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. A route for the procession from DC to Annapolis has not been released by McCain's office, but Route 50 seems likely, according to one local police department.

McCain of Arizona, whose father and grandfather were admirals and in whose footsteps he followed by graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, died at age 81 at his home in Arizona. He was diagnosed last year with an aggressive form of brain cancer that had kept him away from the Senate since mid-December, died just one day after his family announced he would end his treatment for brain cancer. He would have turned 82 on Aug. 29.

The official motorcade route of the funeral procession could be released by the McCain family or his office so members of the public who want to pay their respects before the Annapolis service can take a spot on the route. But Bowie Police said on Twitter Saturday that the procession will proceed along Route 50 and pass through Bowie anywhere from 12:20 to 12:50 p.m., noting the best vantage points would be Church Road, 197, or the foot path along 197.

He will be buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery overlooking the Severn River. McCain had earlier picked out a plot in the cemetery next to the burial site of his Academy classmate and lifelong friend Chuck Larson, who died in 2014. The 1958 classmates were known as the "odd couple" with McCain earning demerits for breaking rules, which left him near the bottom of his class, while Larson graduated at the top of the class, was the second-youngest admiral in U.S. history, and twice served as the superintendent of the Naval Academy.

Sunday's services at the academy will be closed to the public and the media at the request of the McCain family. McCain will be carried into the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel by Navy Body Bearers, and placed on a bier. The Navy Band and Navy Ceremonial Guard will provide a formation consistent with Arlington National Cemetery honors for retired captain. At 2 p.m., a private memorial service will take place in the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel with only McCain’s family and friends, along with the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1958, Naval and military leaders, and the Brigade of Midshipmen invited to the ceremony.

Following the service, a private burial ceremony will be celebrated at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and McCain will be laid to rest next to Admiral Larson.

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Here's a rundown on the private academy service:

• Hymn, “Amazing Grace” led by U.S. Navy Choir
• Invocation by Rear Admiral Margaret G. Kibben, Chief of Chaplains of the Navy
• Reading of Psalm 107:23-32, read by Mark Salter
• Tribute by Senator Lindsey Graham
• Tribute by General David Petraeus
• Hymn, “Faith of our Fathers,” sung by the U.S. Navy Choir
• Tribute by Jack McCain
• Reading of Ephesians 6:10-18 by Doug McCain
• Final Blessing by Rear Admiral Margaret G. Kibben, Chief of Chaplains of the Navy
• Hymn, “Eternal Father,” and Recessional

Following the ceremony, Senator McCain will be placed on the caisson. A procession will proceed to the final resting place at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery. Senator McCain will be removed from the caisson and honors will be rendered. The procession will proceed to the final resting place, where a private interment will be conducted by the U.S. Navy Chaplain:

• Words of Scripture
• The Lord’s Prayer
• The Pastoral Prayers
• The Benediction
• Tributes and Readings (Listed Alphabetically):
• Lt. John S. “Jack” McCain IV, U.S. Navy: Son. U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and instructor. Graduate of the United States Naval Academy and Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
• Douglas McCain (USN-ret): Son. American Airlines pilot and retired U.S. Navy pilot.
• General David Petraeus (USA-ret): Friend. Chairman of the KKR Global Institute. Formerly, Director of Central Intelligence; Commander of the International Security Force and U.S. Forces – Afghanistan; Commander of U.S. Central Command; and Commanding General of the Multi-National Force—Iraq.
• Mark Salter: Friend. Author. Formerly, Chief of Staff to Senator McCain.

The official motorcade route of the funeral procession has not yet been released by the McCain family or his office. "We understand the public’s desire to line the procession route to pay their respects to the McCain family," academy officials said online. "For those seeking to do so, we ask that you please be mindful of traffic laws and remain at a safe distance from the roadways at all times. Please do not park vehicles illegally on roadways, or attempt to walk across roadways illegally."

The Naval Academy will make the following changes to normal operations Sunday, Sept. 2:

• USNA will remain open to the public as usual Sunday morning, and will change to limited public access beginning at 1 p.m.
• Beginning at 1 p.m., the following restrictions will be in place:
  • Gate 3 and Gate 8 will be closed to incoming vehicles at 1 p.m. (Gate 1 will remain open to all vehicles for the duration of the day).
  • Gate 3 and Gate 8 will be closed to all pedestrians, to include the turnstile access point at Gate 3. (Gate 1 will remain open to all pedestrians)
  • Those persons who typically exercise on the yard (runners, walkers, dog-walkers, etc.) are discouraged to do so after 1 p.m. due to the limited access and shortened routes. However, the loop around Farragut Field and Dewey Seawall accessed by Gate 1 will remain open.
  • The museum at Preble Hall will be closed all day Sunday and will re-open Monday as previously scheduled.
  • The Visitor Center and Gift Shop will remain open, but no tours will be offered Sunday. There will be limited access to the yard by all visitors. Changes include: No access to the chapel, crypt, museum, and Gate 3 beginning at 1 p.m. Tour groups from the City of Annapolis who typically enter the yard for tours, will not access the yard for tours Sunday.
  • Hospital Point (to include the cemetery, athletic fields, footbridge and seawall areas) will be closed to all personnel. Marine traffic is requested to remain clear of College Creek.
• Road closures outside of USNA Gates for the funeral procession/motorcade route will be released Saturday, Sept. 1.
• Sunday morning religious services in the Chapel will occur as previously scheduled.
• Drydock Restaurant in Dahlgren Hall will remain open for normal operating hours.
• Navy sports events will play as scheduled. Visit www.navysports.com for more info. MORE

PHOTOS: A Military Honor Guard carries the casket of late Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, followed by his family after a funeral service at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Via Shutterstock

Senator John McCain lies in state at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, DC. McCain, an Arizona Republican, presidential candidate, and war hero, died August 25th at the age of 81. He is the 31st person to lie in state at the Capitol in 166 years. He will be buried Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Via Shutterstock