Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda and the Arizona State Capitol, an honor bestowed on very few before the longtime senator.
“The nation mourns the loss of a great American patriot, a statesman who put his country first and enriched this institution through many years of service,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., wrote in a statement Sunday announcing the Capitol Hill arrangements on behalf of House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
“The Senate is keeping Cindy, the McCain family, all John’s friends and staff, and the people of Arizona in our prayers at this tremendously difficult time,” McConnell continued. “I appreciate my colleagues and the entire Senate and House family’s assistance with this honor.”
Only about 30 other people have laid in state or in honor — for private citizens — in the Capitol Rotunda since 1852, when the practice began with Kentucky Sen. Henry Clay, according to the Architect of the Capitol.
Shortly after McConnell issued the notice, Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey took to Twitter to say McCain will also lie in state in his home state on Wednesday, which would have been the 2008 Republican presidential nominee’s 82nd birthday.
“This is a rare and distinct occurrence for a truly special man,” Ducey said. “John McCain is Arizona, and we will honor his life every way we can.”
Services for McCain will be held in Arizona, as well as at the Washington National Cathedral and in Annapolis, Md., where he will be laid to rest.
McCain graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1958. He would later become a prisoner of war in Vietnam for five years following the naval aviator’s plane being shot down in 1967.
McCain died on Saturday at the age of 81 after he was last year diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Ducey will not appoint someone to fill McCain’s seat until after his burial, according to a statement from his office.
