For McCain, a cross-country farewell
Presidents, public will pay respects
WASHINGTON — Two former presidents are expected to speak at Sen. John McCain’s service and he will lie in state in both the nation’s capital and Arizona as part of a cross-country funeral procession ending with his burial at the U.S. Naval Academy, according to plans taking shape Sunday.
Mr. McCain had long feuded with President Donald Trump, and two White House officials said Mr. McCain’s family had asked, before the senator’s death, that Mr. Trump not attend the funeral. Vice President Mike Pence is likely to attend, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private discussions.
A day after Mr. McCain died of brain cancer at 81, his family, friends and congressional and state leaders were working out details of the farewell to the decorated Vietnam War hero, prisoner of war and six-term senator.
His office said Mr. McCain will lie in state in the Arizona State Capitol on Wednesday and have a funeral nearby on Thursday. The procession then will head to Washington, where Mr. McCain will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda on Friday with a formal ceremony and time for the public to pay respects. The next day, the procession will pass the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and head to a funeral at Washington National Cathedral. A private funeral is planned for Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
Mr. Trump tweeted that his “deepest sympathies and respect” went out to Mr. McCain’s family. First lady Melania Trump tweeted thanks to Mr. McCain for his service to the country.
Former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who blocked Mr. McCain’s own White House ambitions, are among those expected to speak at Mr. McCain’s funeral.
“These were bitter contests, both of them,” said Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and “to ask them to speak at your funeral, and for them to be honored at the opportunity, that tells you all you need to know.”
Mr. McCain was the son and grandson of admirals and followed them to the U.S. Naval Academy.
A pilot, he was shot down over Vietnam during a bombing mission and captured in 1967when he parachuted into Hanoi’s Truc Bach Lake. He spent over five years in the prison known as the “Hanoi Hilton.”