More ceremonies slated for today and Saturday
Sen. John McCain will be honored at the U.S. Capitol today and Saturday at two memorial services.
Speakers include two former presidents, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and current Vice President Mike Pence. McCain’s children and several notable political leaders are planning tributes or readings.
Here are the details and how to watch the events live:
Today
McCain will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol with a ceremony honoring his life and service today, beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern time (8 a.m. Arizona time). The service will be livestreamed at azcentral.com. Speakers include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, RKy., House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Pence. Following the ceremony, people can pay their respects in person from 2 to 8 p.m. Eastern time as McCain lies in state.
Saturday
On Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time (5:30 a.m. Arizona time), a motorcade will carry the senator’s body from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington National Cathedral.
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. Eastern time (7 a.m. Arizona time) at Washington National Cathedral. The event will be livestreamed at azcentral.com.
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.