Government

Farewell statement from Sen. John McCain, memorial ceremony programs

Aug 27, 2018

The family of Sen. John McCain released his farewell statement Monday, two days after his death at the age of 81:

[dropcap type=”1″]M[/dropcap]y fellow Americans, whom I have gratefully served for sixty years, and especially my fellow Arizonans,

Thank you for the privilege of serving you and for the rewarding life that service in uniform and in public office has allowed me to lead. I have tried to serve our country honorably. I have made mistakes, but I hope my love for America will be weighed favorably against them.

I have often observed that I am the luckiest person on earth. I feel that way even now as I prepare for the end of my life. I have loved my life, all of it. I have had experiences, adventures and friendships enough for ten satisfying lives, and I am so thankful. Like most people, I have regrets. But I would not trade a day of my life, in good or bad times, for the best day of anyone else’s.

I owe that satisfaction to the love of my family. And I owe it to America. To be connected to America’s causes – liberty, equal justice, respect for the dignity of all people – brings happiness more sublime than life’s more fleeting pleasures. Our identities and sense of worth are not circumscribed but enlarged by serving good causes bigger than ourselves.

“Fellow Americans” — that association has meant more to me than any other. I lived and died a proud American. We are citizens of the world’s greatest republic, a nation of ideals, not blood and soil. We are blessed and are a blessing to humanity when we uphold and advance those ideals at home and in the world. We have helped liberate more people from tyranny and poverty than ever before in history. We have acquired great wealth and power in the process.

We weaken our greatness when we confuse our nationalism with tribal rivalries that have sown resentment and hatred and violence in all the corners of the globe. We weaken it when we hide behind walls, rather than tear them down, when we doubt the power of our ideals, rather than trust them to be the great force for change they have always been.

We are three-hundred-and-twenty-five million opinionated, vociferous individuals. We argue and compete and sometimes even vilify each other in our raucous public debates. But we have always had so much more in common with each other than in disagreement. If only we remember that and give each other the benefit of the presumption that we all love our country, we will get through these challenging times. We will come through them stronger than before. We always do.

Ten years ago, I had the privilege to concede defeat in the election for president. I want to end my farewell to you with the heartfelt faith in Americans that I felt so powerfully that evening.

I feel it powerfully still.

Do not despair of our present difficulties but believe always in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here. Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history.

Farewell, fellow Americans. God bless you, and God bless America.

Lying in State at the Arizona State Capitol, Aug. 29

At 10 a.m., a private, formal ceremony inside the Rotunda of the Arizona State Capitol will take place to honor Senator McCain’s life and service to the State of Arizona and the nation. Following the conclusion of the ceremony, the public is welcome to pay their respects to Senator McCain in the Arizona State Capitol Rotunda starting at 2 p.m.

Ceremony
Invocation by Father Edward A. Reese, S.J.
Remarks by Sen. Jon Kyl
Remarks by Gov. Doug Ducey
Presentation of Wreath by Congressman Jim Kolbe
Benediction by Sen. Jeff Flake

Arizona Memorial Service at North Phoenix Baptist Church, Aug. 30

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Sen. McCain will occur at the North Phoenix Baptist Church at 10 a.m. Doors open 8 a.m. local time. All guests need to be in their seats no later than 9:30 a.m. There are no more tickets available.

Ceremony
Prelude
Processional
Welcome and Invocation by Senior Pastor Dr. Noe Garcia
Hymn, “Amazing Grace,” performed by the Brophy Student Ensemble
Reading, Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, read by Bridget McCain
Tribute by Grant Woods
Tribute by Tommy Espinoza
Hymn, performed by Jonah LittleSunday, Navajo flutist
Tribute by Larry Fitzgerald, Jr.
Tribute by Vice President Joe Biden
Reading, 2 Timothy 4:6-8 by Andrew McCain
Song, “Arizona,” performed by the Brophy Student Ensemble
Message by Father Edward Reese
Hymn, “Going Home,” performed by Bryan Jeffries on bagpipe
Benediction and Dismissal by Senior Pastor Dr. Noe Garcia
Recessional, “My Way,” original music by Frank Sinatra

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Sen. McCain’s motorcade will depart North Phoenix Baptist Church for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. If so inclined, flowers may be sent to your local VA Hospital.

Lying in State at the U.S. Capitol, Aug. 31

At approximately 11 a.m. ET, a ceremony will take place in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., honoring the life and service of Sen. McCain.

Ceremony
Prelude
Invocation by Reverend Patrick J. Conroy, S.J., Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives
Remarks by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Remarks by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan
Remarks by Vice President Mike Pence
Presentation of the Senate Wreath by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
Presentation of the House Wreath by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan
Presentation of the Administration Wreath by Vice President Mike Pence
Benediction by Rear Admiral Barry C. Black, Chaplain of the U.S. Senate
Postlude

At the conclusion of the formal ceremony, Mrs. Cindy McCain will be escorted to view the casket and lead the procession. At 2 p.m. ET, doors will open for the public to pay their respects to Senator McCain as he lies in state in the Capitol with a Capitol Police Guard of Honor in attendance. All visitors must enter through the Capitol Visitor Center and will be directed to the Rotunda to pay their respects to Senator McCain 2-8 p.m. ET. The Guard of Honor will remain throughout the night.

Washington National Cathedral Ceremony, Sept. 1

At approximately 8:30 a.m. ET, Sen. McCain will be carried with ceremony from the U.S. Capitol by Armed Forces Body Bearers, secured and moved by motorcade to Washington National Cathedral. The motorcade will pause at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial where Mrs. Cindy McCain will lay a ceremonial wreath honoring all whose lives were lost during the Vietnam War. At 10 a.m., a national memorial service celebrating the life of Sen. McCain will take place at Washington National Cathedral. Sen. McCain’s family, friends, congressional colleagues and staff, as well as U.S. and international leaders have been invited to attend and participate in the service.

Ceremony
Anthems in Procession by The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington
Welcome by The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral
Hymn 608, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” (The Navy Hymn), sung by the congregation
Tribute by Meghan McCain
Reading of Poem, “The Requiem,” by Jimmy McCain
Anthem, “My Country Tis of Thee,” sung by the congregation
Tribute by Senator Joseph I. Lieberman
Tribute by Dr. Henry A. Kissinger
Anthem, “Battle Hymn of the Republic”
Tribute by President George W. Bush
Tribute by President Barack H. Obama
Anthem, “Battle Hymn of the Republic”
The Collect for Burial by The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral
Prayer for Those Who Grieve by The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral
Reading, Wisdom 3:1-5, 9, by Senator Kelly Ayotte
Anthem, “The Lord is my Shepherd,” led by the Washington National Cathedral Choir
Reading, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, read by Sidney McCain
Hymn, “How Great Though Art,” sung by the congregation
Gospel, John 15:12-13, read by Senator Lindsey Graham
Homily by Father Edward A. Reese, S.J.
Musical Reflection, “Danny Boy,” sung by Renee Fleming
The Lord’s Prayer
The Prayers
Concluding Prayer, led by The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington
Anthem, “America the Beautiful”
The Commendation, led by The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral; The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington; and Father Edward A. Reese, S.J.
The Blessing by The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington
The Dismissal by The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral
Postlude, “Final,” from Symphony I, OP.14 and Piece d’orgue, BWV 572

Pallbearers
Vice President Joseph Biden
Actor Warren Beatty
Bloomberg CEO Michael Bloomberg
Secretary William Cohen
Sen. Gary Hart
Businessman Stephen Dart
Pegasus COO Richard Davis
Eudy Company President Carla Eudy
Sen. Russ Feingold
Sen. Phil Gramm
Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom Chairman Vladimir Kara-Murza
Gov. Tom Ridge
Former Chief of Staff Mark Salter
FedEx President Fred Smith
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse