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| Arizona Says Its First Farewells to John McCain | Arizona Says Its First Farewells to John McCain |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| PHOENIX — Arizonans began to say farewell here on Wednesday to Senator John S. McCain, the towering political figure in this part of the West who died over the weekend at age 81, with his constituents and family honoring him as he lies in state at the Arizona State Capitol. | |
| Paying tribute to Mr. McCain, a naval aviator who endured torture as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, Arizona veterans and law enforcement officials lined both sides of the Capitol Plaza as a black hearse carrying his coffin, which was draped with a flag, made its way through downtown Phoenix. | |
| Uniformed members of the Arizona National Guard then carried the coffin into the Capitol rotunda. | |
| “It’s our job to show our respect,” said Robbie Campbell, 59, a statewide captain of the Patriot Guard Riders, an organization comprised largely of motorcyclists that attends the funerals of members of the United States military and first responders. “We don’t want anybody that serves to protect our freedoms to not know that the whole nation cares.” | “It’s our job to show our respect,” said Robbie Campbell, 59, a statewide captain of the Patriot Guard Riders, an organization comprised largely of motorcyclists that attends the funerals of members of the United States military and first responders. “We don’t want anybody that serves to protect our freedoms to not know that the whole nation cares.” |
| Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey embraced Mr. McCain’s wife, Cindy McCain, as she arrived for a short private ceremony on the morning of what would have been her husband’s 82nd birthday. | |
| A small group of political figures delivered brief remarks honoring and remembering Mr. McCain. His family listened quietly, then lined up afterward to pass by the coffin and bid an initial farewell. At one point, Mr. McCain’s daughter, Meghan McCain, broke into tears as she approached his coffin to touch it. Her wailing echoed throughout the rotunda. | |
| John Kyl, a former Republican senator, said that although some people disagreed with Mr. McCain’s political positions, “that should not diminish our gratitude for his service.” | |
| Also speaking were Governor Ducey and Senator Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican who is not running for re-election. Three former governors, Fife Symington, Janet Napolitano and Jan Brewer, were also in attendance, as were several state legislative leaders. | |
| Members of the public lined up outside the Capitol for what was to be a general viewing throughout the afternoon. | |
| “I’m a lifelong Democrat, and I also served in Vietnam, so I came here to honor a man who never forgot about fellow veterans,” said Marlin Porter, 71, a member of the Gila River Indian Community who waited in line for the viewing. “John McCain was just so different from what we have in the White House now: a president who disrespects veterans.” | |
| Mr. McCain had represented Arizona in the House of Representatives and Senate since moving to the state in the early 1980s. | |
| He wielded outsize influence in Arizona, emerging as one of the state’s most powerful leaders, often compared with figures like Carl Hayden, the Democrat who served in Congress from 1912 to 1968, and Barry Goldwater, the pioneer of the modern conservative movement who was the Republican presidential nominee in 1964. | |
| Only two other Arizonans have had the honor of lying in state in the Capitol: Marilyn Jarrett, a former state senator, in 2006, and the Olympic titan Jesse Owens, in 1980. | Only two other Arizonans have had the honor of lying in state in the Capitol: Marilyn Jarrett, a former state senator, in 2006, and the Olympic titan Jesse Owens, in 1980. |
| At around 2 p.m. local time, doors to the Capitol will open to the public to pay their respects. The Guard of Honor will remain on duty throughout the night, as long as people are in line. | At around 2 p.m. local time, doors to the Capitol will open to the public to pay their respects. The Guard of Honor will remain on duty throughout the night, as long as people are in line. |
| The ceremony on Wednesday is the first of several events taking place in the coming days to honor Mr. McCain. On Thursday, the senator’s body will be carried from the Capitol in a motorcade that will deliver him to the North Phoenix Baptist Church, where a memorial service will be held. About 1,000 seats at the church are available to the public. | The ceremony on Wednesday is the first of several events taking place in the coming days to honor Mr. McCain. On Thursday, the senator’s body will be carried from the Capitol in a motorcade that will deliver him to the North Phoenix Baptist Church, where a memorial service will be held. About 1,000 seats at the church are available to the public. |
| From the church, Mr. McCain’s remains will be flown to Washington for another viewing on Friday at the U.S. Capitol. After a memorial service at the National Cathedral, Mr. McCain will be buried at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Md. | From the church, Mr. McCain’s remains will be flown to Washington for another viewing on Friday at the U.S. Capitol. After a memorial service at the National Cathedral, Mr. McCain will be buried at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Md. |