Arizona public shows its respect for McCain ahead of memorial services

PHOENIX — The Arizona citizens whom Sen. John McCain served for more than four decades are paying their respects with tokens of appreciation and regard in the days leading up to services in his honor.

They brought flowers, American flags, thank-you notes, T-shirts and more to a makeshift memorial outside A. L. Moore Grimshaw Mortuaries in Phoenix all weekend and did so again Monday.

McCain died Saturday at his family’s ranch near Sedona after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. He was 81. His body was brought to the funeral home near Seventh Avenue and Bethany Home Road.

The senator will lie in state at the Arizona Capitol on Wednesday, his birthday. Public viewing was scheduled from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Betty Manning of Phoenix, a Navy veteran like McCain, stopped by the mortuary with cards and flowers.

“In the Senate he took people and made them see they didn’t have to take sides. Do the right thing. Just do the right thing,” Manning said.

“He preached that and I admired him for it.”

Manning has lived in Arizona for 44 years.

Julie Hatch dropped off a card at the memorial.

“I wanted to pay tribute to a wonderful man and his family. He served us well,” she said.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordered flags at the Arizona State Capitol to be flown at half-staff after news of McCain’s death.

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo ordered flags in the state lowered to half-staff to mark McCain’s death. Flags will return to full staff at sunset on Sunday, the day of McCain’s private burial service.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.

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