Former Senator John McCain dies at 81
Veteran, war hero and an undeniable part of American history, John McCain, died of brain cancer Saturday, Aug. 25.
McCain served his country in unfathomable ways, yet much of the news coverage surrounding his death focuses on President Donald Trump’s reaction. It may be vital to recognize (and maybe even criticize) the actions of our President, but it is important to remember our condolences toward McCain and his loved ones.
McCain will lie “in state” according to the Architect of the Capitol website.
“More than 30 people have been honored by lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda, a gesture reserved for the country’s “most eminent citizens,” since the practice began in 1852,” according to The New York Times.
Former senator McCain’s final resting place will be Annapolis, Md.
Other notable figures to receive the honor to lie in state include John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln.
In 1986, McCain became senator of Arizona where he was very outspoken on his mostly conservative political point of views.
In 2008, McCain won the Republican nomination with running-mate Sarah Palin. He lost the election to Barack Obama.
Diagnosed with brain cancer in July of 2017, McCain declared that he would continue working as a senator through treatment. The McCain family announced on Aug. 24, 2018 that he would not continue treatment. McCain died the following day at 81-years-old.
Braun Panter, a veteran student at WSU Vancouver said, “He [McCain] basically dedicated his life to his country and served it honorably.”
In McCain’s farewell letter he wrote,
We are 325 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.
With this as one of McCain’s last statements, let us honor him by not arguing about reactions to his death, but instead coming together and remembering him as the hero that he was.
Anna Nelson is the Editor in Chief for the VanCougar. She is a senior and is studying strategic communications.