Schedule of McCain Memorial Events This Weekend

By Griffin Connolly

Posted August 31, 2018 at 9:37am

After a memorial in his home state of Arizona, Sen. John McCain’s body is returning to the Capitol on Friday for memorial services there and at the National Cathedral this weekend.

The senator, a decorated Navy pilot who was shot down and captured during the Vietnam War, will be buried Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy on Sunday.

Here is the schedule of events this weekend for celebrating the senator’s life:

Friday

At approximately 10:30 a.m. McCain’s motorcade will enter the East Capitol and be received with a ceremony on the East Capitol Plaza, carried into the Rotunda by Armed Forces body bearers, and placed on the Catafalque.

Cindy McCain will be escorted to her seat, followed by the McCain family. The ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda will begin at approximately 11 a.m.

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, Cindy McCain will be escorted to view the casket and lead the procession.

At 1 p.m., doors will open for the public to pay their respects to McCain as he lies in state in the Capitol with a Capitol Police guard of honor. The guard of honor will keep vigil overnight.

Capitol speakers and wreath presenters (listed alphabetically)

Senate Chaplain Rear Adm. Barry C. Black
House Chaplain Rev. Patrick J. Conroy, S.J.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Vice President Mike Pence
House Speaker Paul Ryan
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer

McCain family attending

Cindy McCain
Roberta McCain, mother
Meghan McCain, daughter
Ben Domenech, son-in-law
Jack McCain, son
Rene McCain, daughter-in-law
Jimmy McCain, son
Holly McCain, daughter-in-law
Bridget McCain, daughter
Cindy McCain
Doug McCain, son
Ashley McCain, daughter-in-law
Caroline McCain, granddaughter
Shep McCain, grandson
Andy McCain, son
Lucy McCain, daughter-in-law
Margaret McCain, granddaughter
Andrew McCain, grandson
Sidney McCain, daughter
Jason Sweet, son-in-law
Joe McCain, brother
Sandy McCain Morgan, sister

Other notable attendees

Current and former members of Congress
Current and former administration officials
Current and former senior military officials
Members of the diplomatic corps
McCain’s Senate staff

Public Guidance

Visitors should enter through the Capitol Visitor Center.

Members of the public may begin lining up Friday morning on First Street NW/SW between Constitution and Independence avenues, or Second Street NE/SE between East Capitol Street and Independence Avenue SE.

Visitors should be prepared for the weather since they will be standing outside before entering the building.

No flowers, sealed envelopes or other offerings/tokens will be allowed into the Capitol or Capitol Visitor Center.

The McCain family asks that if you are so inclined, you can send flowers to your local Veterans Affairs hospital.

Saturday

Vietnam Veterans Memorial schedule

At approximately 9 a.m. Saturday, McCain will be carried from the Capitol by Armed Forces body bearers and moved by motorcade to the National Cathedral. The motorcade will pause at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where Cindy McCain will lay a ceremonial wreath honoring all who were lost during the Vietnam War.

National Cathedral schedule

McCain’s motorcade will arrive at approximately 9:40 a.m. at the National Cathedral. Cindy McCain and immediate family will be seated and Sen. McCain will be carried into the Cathedral by Armed Forces body bearers and positioned at the Main Crossing of the Nave.

The song, “Going Home” will be played at this time. The memorial service will begin at approximately 10 a.m.
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
“Eternal Father, Strong to Save (The Navy Hymn)” sung by the congregation
Tribute by Meghan McCain
Reading of Poem, “The Requiem,” by Jimmy McCain
“My Country Tis of Thee” sung by the congregational
Tribute by former Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman
Tribute by Dr. Henry A. Kissinger
“Battle Hymn of the Republic”
Tribute by former President George W. Bush
Tribute by former President Barack Obama
“Battle Hymn of the Republic”
Collect for Burial by the Very Rev. Hollerith
Prayer for Those Who Grieve by the Very Rev. Hollerith
Reading, Wisdom 3:1-5, 9, by former Sen. Kelly Ayotte
“The Lord is my Shepherd” led by the Washington National Cathedral Choir
Reading, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, read by Sidney McCain
“How Great Though Art” sung by the congregation
Gospel, John 15:12-13, read by Sen. Lindsey Graham
Homily by Father Edward A. Reese, S.J.
“Danny Boy” sung by Renee Fleming
The Lord’s Prayer
Prayers
Concluding prayer led by the Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington
“America the Beautiful”
The Commendation, led by the Very Rev. Hollerith, the Right Rev. Budde, and Fr. Reese
Blessing by the Right Rev. Budde
Dismissal by the Very Rev. Hollerith
Postlude, “Final,” from Symphony I, OP.14 and Piece d’orgue, BWV 572

Tributes and readings (listed alphabetically):

Former Sen. Kelly Ayotte, friend.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, friend.
James McCain, son
Sidney McCain, daughter
Former President George W. Bush, friend
Former President Barack Obama, friend
Former Sen. Joseph Lieberman, friend
Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, friend
Meghan McCain, daughter

Pallbearers (listed alphabetically)

Former Vice President Joseph Biden
Warren Beatty, friend
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, friend
Former Defense Secretary William Cohen, friend
Former Sen. Gary Hart, friend
Stephen Dart, friend
Richard Davis, friend
Carla Eudy, friend
Former Sen. Russ Feingold
Former Sen. Phil Gramm
Vladimir Kara-Murza, friend
Ronald Perelman, friend
Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, friend
Former McCain Chief of Staff Mark Salter, friend
Fred Smith, friend
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, friend

Sunday

U.S. Naval Academy ceremonies

On Sunday at approximately 2 p.m., a private memorial service will take place in the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland.

McCain’s family and friends, along with the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1958, Navy and military leaders, and the Brigade of Midshipmen have been invited to the ceremony.

At approximately 1:45 p.m., McCain will be received with ceremony, carried into the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel by Navy body bearers, and placed on a bier. The Navy Band and Navy Ceremonial Guard will provide a formation consistent with Arlington National Cemetery honors for the retired Captain.

A private ceremony will begin at 2 p.m.:

Hymn “Amazing Grace” led by U.S. Navy Choir
Invocation by Rear Adm. Margaret G. Kibben, chief of chaplains of the Navy
Reading of Psalm 107:23-32, read by Mark Salter
Tribute by Sen. Lindsey Graham
Tribute by Gen. David Petraeus
Hymn “Faith of our Fathers,” sung by the U.S. Navy Choir
Tribute by Jack McCain
Reading of Ephesians 6:10-18 by Doug McCain
Final Blessing by Kibben
Hymn “Eternal Father” and recessional

Following the ceremony, McCain will be carried by Navy body bearers and placed on the caisson. A procession will then form and proceed to the final resting place at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery.

McCain will be removed from the caisson and honors will be rendered. The procession will proceed to the final resting place, where a private interment will be conducted by the U.S. Navy chaplain: