Thousands brave Phoenix heat to pay respects to late Sen. John McCain

PHOENIX — Thousands of people braved triple-digit temperatures at the Arizona Capitol in downtown Phoenix on Wednesday to say goodbye and pay their respects to the late Sen. John McCain.

On what would have been his 82nd birthday, visitors — some of whom traveled from as far as the Philippines — filed past the flag-draped casket that held the senator’s body to instead say: “Thank you.”

An estimated 1,500 people moved through the Capitol each hour since 2 p.m., an hour after the building first opened to the public, equating more than 7,500 in total, according to Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves.

The line snaked down streets even as a continuous flow of people flowed past the casket. Temperatures reached as high as 107 degrees throughout the afternoon.

A sea of people are lining the surrounding streets of the State Capitol to pay respect to @SenJohnMcCain. @KTAR923 pic.twitter.com/uYJoyiw4G9

— Ali Vetnar (@Ali_Vetnar) August 29, 2018

Former military members in shorts and T-shirts stopped and saluted the closed casket flanked by National Guard members at the Arizona Capitol.

Families with small children came by, and several people placed their hand over their heart or bowed, including Vietnamese-born residents who traveled from Southern California.

The public viewing came shortly after an emotional private service was held to allow friends, family and supporters to pay their respects.

The service was the first time the McCain family was seen in public since the Republican senator died Saturday of brain cancer. His wife Cindy was seen placing her cheek against the flag-draped casket tenderly, and daughter Meghan, who broke down as she entered the rotunda, sobbed again as she said goodbye.

Those who were willing to brave the brutal Arizona heat to say goodbye to McCain were given water bottles from volunteers and were perched under tents as they waited in line, many for over an hour. The viewing was originally set to last until 8 p.m., but the family said they would allow people to say their goodbyes past that time.

According to ABC15 reporter Danielle Lerner, members of the McCain family also thanked members of the public for their support late Wednesday.

RIGHT NOW: Members of the McCain family thanking the public for their support pic.twitter.com/4t19tDN2Bc

— Danielle Lerner (@DanielleLerner) August 30, 2018

But the viewing did not come without trouble: Phoenix Fire Department spokesman Capt. Kenny Overton said the department treated 25 people for heat-related illness and transported three to local hospitals.

Wednesday’s private service and public viewing would be the first of two days of local services.

A procession through Phoenix will bring the casket to a memorial service at a Baptist church on Thursday, with the public invited to line the route along a highway. Former Vice President Joe Biden will speak.

McCain’s body will be taken to Washington for a viewing at the U.S. Capitol, followed by burial at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ali Vetnar and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

KTAR News 92.3 FM will air commercial-free coverage of the Arizona memorial service for Sen. John McCain from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday.

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