3 years after his death, John McCain remains in thoughts of many

PHOENIX – Three years after his death, John McCain remains in the thoughts of many.

Tributes to the Arizona political icon poured in Wednesday from Vice President Kamala Harris in Vietnam, local leaders, family members and friends.

McCain, the Republican presidential nominee in 2008, was in his sixth term and 31st year in the U.S. Senate when he died after a yearlong battle with brain cancer at age 81 on Aug. 25, 2018.

While on a weeklong tour of Southeast Asia, Harris spent a moment of silence in the pouring rain before placing flowers at the monument where McCain’s plane was shot down by the North Vietnamese in 1967.

In the pouring rain here in Hanoi, VP Harris took a moment of silence and laid flowers at the monument where John McCain’s plane was shot down by the North Vietnamese in 1967. It’s the three-year anniversary of McCain’s death. pic.twitter.com/51LzDXtjuN

— Alexandra Jaffe (@ajjaffe) August 25, 2021

McCain’s widow, Cindy, tweeted, “I miss you every second of every day!”

Three years today you left for heaven. I miss you every second of every day! pic.twitter.com/1YOFTTp0gj

— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) August 25, 2021

Meghan McCain, a former co-host of “The View,” mourned the loss of her father by tweeting, “You left a void in this world by leaving it that will never be filled.”

3 years. You left a void in this world by leaving it that will never be filled. And when you left, so much light went with you. I think about you every single day. I miss everything. I love you forever, Dad. illegitimi non carborundum. pic.twitter.com/9oXOoQVIgx

— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 25, 2021

Back in the state McCain represented, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey remembered him as “the kind of leader who always put country before self.”

Today, Arizona remembers a beloved public servant and hero — Senator John McCain. He was the kind of leader who always put country before self, and three years since his passing, he is missed dearly. 1/ pic.twitter.com/e2BhUHdDSF

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) August 25, 2021

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, the moderate Democrat who frequently cites McCain in her calls for bipartisanship, called McCain “one of my personal heroes.”

Three years ago, our country lost a devout servicemember and statesman — and one of my personal heroes, Senator John McCain. Senator McCain worked tirelessly for the state and country he loved. Today, we remember his commitment to service. Sending love to the McCain family. pic.twitter.com/rNYrC6rQ8l

— Kyrsten Sinema (@kyrstensinema) August 25, 2021

Fellow U.S. Sen. from Arizona Mark Kelly also called McCain a hero.

Three years ago today, Arizona lost a legend with the passing of Senator John McCain. John dedicated his life to our country and our state — and he did it all with respect, compassion, and an unmatched commitment to service that earned admiration on both sides of the aisle.

— Captain Mark Kelly (@CaptMarkKelly) August 25, 2021

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a longtime Republican colleague and close friend of McCain, tweeted that the anniversary “reminds me and many others how much we miss his counsel and wisdom.”

On this, the third anniversary of John McCain’s passing – and given the chaos in the world – it reminds me and many others how much we miss his counsel and wisdom.

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 25, 2021

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Related

Biden to nominate Cindy McCain as UN food and agriculture ambassadorWeekend wrap: Here are the biggest Arizona news stories from July 24-26Construction begins on 1.1 million-square-foot warehouse in PhoenixArizona Governor’s Office of Resiliency updates its appliance rebate programDemolition of Food City in Tempe makes way for affordable housing, grocery developmentDead body found on South Mountain trail in Phoenix identified