Politics & Government
John McCain Memorial Services: From Capitols To The Streets
The Nation grieves together over the loss of U.S. Sen. John McCain; heart-wrenching photos chronicle the memorial services in his honor.
Since the passing last week of U.S. Senator John McCain, various memorial services have shown a politically divided country (mostly) join together to grieve and honor his legacy. The late Senator will be buried Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy. Saturday's services were at the National Cathedral, which followed tributes to McCain in Arizona.
Sen. McCain had made it known he did not want President Trump to attend his funeral. McCain asked former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who defeated him in presidential elections, to deliver eulogies. They obliged.
Sunday: Burial At The U.S. Naval Academy Chapel
September 2, 2018: The late Sen. John McCain was officially laid to rest at the same place where his lifelong commitment to the nation first began — the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1958, McCain graduated the academy and after decades of public service would go on to receive numerous awards, including the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and Distinguished Flying Cross to name a few.
Above, Navy Body Bearers move the casket of the late Sen. John McCain from his processional hearse to his burial service at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel, in what capped off more than a week of emotional ceremonies.
F/A-18 Super Hornets from Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA) 31, VFA-32, VFA-87 and VFA-105 honor the late Sen. John McCain with a fly-over of the U.S. Naval Academy during the burial service. The aircraft were in missing man formation, which consists of four aircraft in a formation shape of a 'V' with the right arm, from the pilots' perspective, longer than the left. When the 'V' passes over the ceremonial site, the aircraft in the 'ring-finger' position pulls up and leaves the formation to signify a lost comrade in arms.
(Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Burke/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
Saturday: Funeral At The National Cathedral
Neither former president mentioned Trump, who ridiculed and insulted McCain as the senator was fighting brain cancer, but the contrast they presented between the senator and the sitting president could not have been more stark. “So much of our politics, our public life, our public discourse, can seem small and mean and petty, trafficking in bombast and insult, in phony controversies and manufactured outrage,” Obama said. “It’s a politics that pretends to be brave, but in fact is born of fear. John called us to be bigger than that. He called us to be better than that.”
Trump spent the morning tweeting complaints about the Russia investigation, his Department of Justice, the FBI, the FISA Court, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, the media and Canada. Then he went golfing.
(Photos by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
The senator's casket is led out following the funeral service McCain will be buried at his final resting place at the U.S. Naval Academy. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Friday: U.S. Capitol Memorial Service
August 31, 2018: Senator John McCain is laid to rest at the U.S. Capitol, a rare honor bestowed on only 31 people in the past 166 years.
Joint service members of a military casket team carry Senator John McCain up the stairs of the U.S. Capitol, as the structure's steps appropriately glistened a reflective sheen from rain that day. (Photo by Shutterstock)
Family, elected officials and staff who worked for Sen. McCain gather in the Capitol. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Roberta McCain, the 106 -year-old mother of Sen. John McCain, as she sits alone prior to the various tributes to come. (Photo by Kevin Lamarque-Pool/Getty Images)
Shortly after the ceremonies commenced, Cindy McCain, wife of late Sen. McCain, is seen kneeling at her husband's casket. (Photo by Kevin Lamarque-Pool/Getty Images)
Meghan McCain, Sen. McCain's daughter, walks away from her father's casket in tears . (Photo by Kevin Lamarque-Pool/Getty Images)
Beyond family members and close friends, a slew of prominent political figures continued honoring the late senator. Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and actor Warren Beatty were among those in attendance. Above, House Speaker Paul Ryan speaks about Sen. McCains integrity.(Photo by Andrew Harnik-Pool/Getty Images)
In this moment, Nancy Pelosi (Minority Leader, U.S. House of Rep.) and Sam Johnson (Rep., R-Texas) gently touch the casket of the late Senator as more familiar faces line up behind to say their goodbyes. (Photo by Andrew Harnik-Pool/Getty Images)
After official services wrap, the lights of the U.S. Capitol dim around the casket of Sen. McCain as the Rotunda opens it's door to the general public. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Thursday: Arizona Memorial Services
Thousands showed up for this North Phoenix memorial, which included various tributes and readings for to honor the late Senator.
The streets of North Phoenix bustled with crowds hoping to catch a lasting glimpse of the late Senator as his body was escorted by Arizona State Troopers to the oncoming memorial services held at North Phoenix Baptist Church. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Other onlookers took to the busy streets to memorialize the late Senator in more personal ways than with a smartphone, as seen in the above image of a man saluting the hearse transporting Sen. McCain's casket. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The late Senator's wife, Cindy McCain, is escorted by their sons Jack (L) and Jimmy (R), as her husband's casket is moved to the Church prior to services. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden spared no emotion as he wipes away a tear while giving his tribute during the memorial service. Biden's passionate speech was one just of many to follow, shedding light on the diverse groups of people that the late Senator had impacted. (Photo by Matt York-Pool/Getty Images)
Arizona Cardinals' wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald delivers his tribute. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Countless tributes honoring Sen. McCain continued into the evening and wouldn't stop there. In the above image a moment of silence is observed to honor the passing of the Arizona senator during a preseason NFL game between Fitzgerald's Arizona Cardinals and the Denver Broncos at University of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Arizona State Capitol Memorial Service
August 29, 2018: Before being transported to North Phoenix, Washington D.C. and eventually the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, U.S. Senator John McCain was memorialized fittingly at the Arizona State Capitol.
Cindy McCain is seen walking behind her late husband's casket as it is carried into the Arizona State Capitol located in Phoenix. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Cindy McCain looks on at her husband's casket as she stand with their two sons Jack (L) and Jimmy (R) during one of the more personal memorial services for the late Senator. (Photo by Jae C. Hong-Pool via Getty Images)
Meghan McCain, daughter of Sen. John McCain, touches the casket during in this heart-wrenching moment between a daughter and her father. (Photo by Jae C. Hong - Pool/Getty Images)
Similar to the tributes that followed, the late Senator's memorial service at the Arizona State Capitol this past Wednesday opened its doors for everyone. Veterans walk past the casket of Sen. John McCain, as seen above. Shortly after, groups of the general were also given the opportunity at a final goodbye. (Photo by Ross D. Franklin-Pool via Getty Images)
Some of the general public who came to grieve over the Arizona Senator's passing had some other messages to convey, as seen by the passionate Tuscan resident who was one of the many championing that recently widowed Cindy McCain step into her late husband's political footprint. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
Politics took a back seat this past Wednesday as a wife's love for her husband took front and center. Cindy McCain drapes her body over the casket of her late husband, Sen. John McCain, as time appears to standstill at the Arizona State Capitol. With a gentle touch and a kiss, Cindy McCain says goodbye to her husband, while the Nation prepares to say goodbye to a Senator. (Photo by Ross D. Franklin-Pool via Getty Images)
Sen. John McCain, Aug. 29, 1936 - Aug. 25, 2018
Lead Photo by Shutterstock
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