The passing of Senator John McCain leaves the U.S. Senate without one of its most respected and honorable voices. His fight to survive five and a half years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War has inspired countless men and women in their military service. He earned a reputation as a “maverick” in the U.S. Senate for his willingness to put country over politics and buck his own party.
Senator McCain has been afforded the honor of laying in state in the U.S. Capitol. His body will be brought to Washington, DC, from Arizona, where he passed surrounded by family and close friends. He will be buried in a private ceremony at his alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.
According to the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, when a vacancy occurs in the Senate, the state’s Governor must call for a special election; the Governor may also provide a temporary replacement if the legislature has granted that power. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced that he will not appoint a successor until after Senator McCain is laid to rest.
Read on for more information about tributes to deceased Members of Congress at the post “What Happens When a Member of Congress Dies?”
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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