Hossen Sohel: Family, friends and constituents gathered yesterday at Arizona’s Capitol to pay their respects to Sen. John McCain, the first of two days of services here before he departs the state he has represented since the 1980s, reports AP.
A private ceremony was held yesterday morning at the Arizona State Capitol Museum rotunda, where McCain lay in state. That ceremony also marked the first appearance of McCain’s family members since the longtime Arizona senator died of brain cancer on Saturday at age 81.
Later in the afternoon, the Capitol was open to members of the public who want to pay their respects. For some Arizona residents, McCain has been a political fixture in the state for their entire lives. He took office in Arizona in the early 1980s, first as a congressional representative and then as a senator in the seat once held by Sen. Barry Goldwater.
Crews spent the past several days prepping the Capitol for the visitors, hauling in chairs, cleaning up the building and assembling dozens of flags. McCain is the third person to lie in state in the rotunda in the last 40 years; others were Arizona State Senator Marilyn Jarrett in 2006 and Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens, a Tucson resident, in 1980.
Thursday morning will see a procession through Phoenix on the way to a memorial service at North Phoenix Baptist Church, with the public invited to line the route along Interstate 17.
The memorial service will see multiple tributes, readings and musical performances, including a tribute from Vice President Joe Biden. Musical choices include a performance of “Amazing Grace” by the Brophy Student Ensemble and a recessional to “My Way” by Frank Sinatra.