The family of Sen. John McCain said their goodbyes to the late Senator inside the Capitol Rotunda, following Congressional leaders and Vice President Mike Pence paying their respects with official wreaths laid in front of McCain’s casket. (Aug. 31)
AP
Sen. John McCain will be honored at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., Saturday in a memorial that will include speeches from two former presidents.
The Saturday gathering comes after thousands of people paid respects to McCain on Friday at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda as the Arizona senator lay in state.
The day was filled with tributes by the nation’s leaders, including Vice President Mike Pence. But there were also moments where regular people honored McCain by leaving messages at his Senate office or gathering to talk about politics and make new friends.
One of the more touching moments from Friday came as McCain’s 106-year-old mother took her turn to say goodbye.
Sitting in a wheelchair, Roberta McCain pushed up to her son’s flag-draped coffin, where she made the sign of the cross before being wheeled away.
She plans to attend her son’s funeral service at the National Cathedral on Saturday when a planned motorcade will carry the senator’s body from the U.S. Capitol beginning at 8:30 a.m.
More: Visitors to McCain’s office documented his legacy in the Donald Trump era
On the way, the procession will pause at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where Cindy McCain will lay a ceremonial wreath honoring those who died during the Vietnam War. The public is welcome to line the procession route along Constitution Avenue to pay respects to the senator.
An invitation-only national memorial service celebrating the senator’s life will begin at 10 a.m. EDT at Washington National Cathedral.
USA TODAY is providing extended coverage of McCain’s memorial events, including Saturday’s service at the National Cathedral.
More: McCain the first Vietnam veteran to lie in state at Capitol Rotunda
Former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, former Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger will give tributes.
McCain’s daughter Meghan will give a tribute, and daughter Sidney will give a reading. McCain’s son Jimmy will read the poem “The Requiem.”
McCain’s close friend, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., will read from the gospels.
Bush was McCain’s rival in the 2000 presidential race. The senator withdrew after losing a series of primaries to Bush on Super Tuesday. McCain later supported his former adversary.
As the GOP nominee in 2008, McCain lost to Obama. In McCain’s concession speech at the Arizona Biltmore, he graciously spoke of the significance of Obama’s win, as the first African-American to hold the presidency.
On Sunday, McCain will be buried in the cemetery at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Services will be private.
Contributing: Erin Kelly, Richard Wolf, Anne Ryman
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