Bigger than yourself. Johns story is the american story. Thats not hyperbole. The american story. Grounded in respect and decency, basic fairness. The intolerance for the abuse of power. Many of you have traveled the world, lack how the rest of the world, how they look at us. They look at us a little naive, were fair, decent. Naive americans. But thats who we are, thats who john was. And he could not stand the abuse of power wherever he saw it. In whatever form, whatever country. It was always about basic values with john. Fairness, honesty, dignity, respect. Giving hate no safe harbor. Leaving no one behind, understanding as americans were part of something much bigger than ourselves. With john it was a value set not selfish or self serving. John understood that america was first and foremost an idea, audacious and risky, organized around, not tribe but around ideals. The ideals that americans have rallied around the ideals of the world, an idea enshrined in the constitution. Sounds corny. We hold these truths selfevident, all men are created equal, endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. To john those words had meaning as they have for every great patriot that has served this country. We both loved the senate, proudest years of my life were being a United States senator. I was honored to be Vice President. But being a United States senator, and we both lamented watching it change. During long debates in the 80s and 90s, as some of the colleagues who were around then, id sit next to john, next to his seat. Hed come over on the democratic side and sit next to me. Im not joking, because wed sit there, and talk to each other. And i can remember the day when i came out to see john, we reminisced about it, it was in 96 and we were about to adjourn for what we called the caucuses, a lunch on that we had lunch together, democratic and republican senators once a week. We went into the caucus. We were approached by our caucus leaders with the same thing, raised as discussion, joe, it doesnt look good you sitting next to john. Swear to god. Same thing was said to john in your caucus. Thats when things began to change for the worse in america, in the senate. Thats when it changed. What happened was, at those times, it was always appropriate to challenge another senators judgment but never appropriate to challenge their motive. When you challenged their motive its impossible to get to go f i say youre doing this because youre being paid off, if i say youre doing this because you arent a good christian. If i say youre doing this because this, that, the other thing. Its impossible to reach consensus. Think about in your personal lives for all we do today, attack the oppositions of broesdz parties, their both parties, their motives. Not the substance of their argument. This is the mid90s where it began to go downhill from there. The last day john was on the senate floor what was he fighting to do . He was fighting to restore what we call regular order to start to treat one another again like we used to. The senate was never perfect, john, you know that, we were there a long time together. Id watch Teddy Kennedy and james o. Eastland to fight like crazy on civil rights and go down and have lunch together in the Senate Dining room. John wanted to see, quote, regular order writ large, get to know one another. You know, john and i were both amused, i think lindsey was at one of these events, john and i received two prestigious awards, the last year i was Vice President , then one immediately after, for our dignity and respect we showed to one another. We received an award for civility in public life. It was the college of allegheny college, puts out this prestigious award for bipartisanship. John and i looked at each other, and said what the hell is going here. Not a joke. I said to senator flake, thats how it is always supposed to be. Youre getting an award . Im serious, think about this, getting an award for your civility. Getting an award for bipartisanship. And classic john, at allegheny college, hundreds of people there. John, the senate was in session, he spoke first. And as he walked off the stage and i walked on, he looked at me, he said joe, dont take it personal but i dont want to hear what the hell you have to say. [laughing] and he left. [laughing] one of johns Major Campaign people is now with the senate, with the governor of ohio, was on this morning, i happened to watch it. He said that biden and mccain had a strange relationship, always seemed to have each others back. Whenever i was in trouble john was the first guy there. And i hope i was there for him. And we never hesitate to give each other advice. Hed call me, what the hell did you say that for in the middle of the campaign . Not an issue, you just screwed up, joe. Id occasionally call him. Look, ive been thinking this week about why johns death has hit the country so hard. Yes, he was a longserving senator with a remarkable record. Yes, he was a twotime president ial candidate who cap tued the support and imagination of the American People and yes john was a war hero, demonstrated extraordinary courage. I think of john and my son when i think offinger sols words when duty throw as graunt let down to fate, when honor scorn to compromise with death that, is heroism. Everybody knows that about john. But i dont think it fully explains why the country has been so taken by johns passing. I think its something more intangible. I think its because they knew john believed so deeply and so passion atly in the soul of america. He made it easier for them to have confidence and faith in america. His faith in the core values of the nation made them somehow feel it more genuinely themselves. His conviction that we, the country, would never walk away from the sacrifices generations of america made to defend liberty and freedom, Human Dignity around the world, it made average americans proud of themselves and their country. His belief, and it was deep, that americans can do anything, with stand anything, achieve anything was both unflagging and ultimately reassuring, that this man believed that so strongly. His capacity that we truly are the worlds last, best hope that, were the beacon to the world. That there are principles and ideals greater than ourselves and were suffering, sacrificing for and if necessary dying for. Americans saw how he lived his life that way and they knew the truth of what he was saying. I just think he gave americans confidence. John was a hero. His character, courage, honor, integrity. The thing that is understated is his optimism. Thats what made john special. Made john a giant among all of us. But in my view john didnt believe that americas future and fate rested on heros. We used to talk, about and i liked most about him, is he understood what i hope we all remember, heros didnt build this country. Order people being given half a chance are capable of doing extraordinary things. Extraordinary things. John knew order americans understood that each of us has a duty to defend the integrity, dignity, and birth right of every child. He carried it. Good communities are built by thousands of small acts of decency that americans, as i speak today, show each other every single day. Buried deep in the dna of this nations soul lie as flame that was lit over 200 years ago, each of us carries with us. Each one of us has the capacity, the responsibility, if we can screw up the courage, to ensure its not extinguished. Its a thousand the things that make us different. The bottom line was, i think john believed in us. I think he believed in the American People. Not just all of the preambles of the constitution. He believed in the American People. All 325 million of us. Even though john is no longer with us, he left us pretty clear instructions. Quote, believe always in the promise and greatness of america because nothing is inevitable here. Close to the last thing john said to the whole nation, as he knew he was about to depart, thats what he wanted america to understand. Not to build his legacy, he wanted america, to remind them, to understand. I think johns legacy is going to continue to inspire and challenge generations of leaders as they step forward. And john mccains impact on america is not over. Its not per boly, its not not hyperbole. Its not over. Cindy, john owed so much of what he was to you. You were his ballast. When i was with you both i could see how he looked at you. Jill is the one, when we were in hawaii and he first met threw, he kept staring at you. Jill said finally, go up and talk to her. And doug and annie, sydney, megan, jack, jimmy, brigette, you may not have had your father as long as you would have liked but you got from him everything you need to pursue your own dreams. To follow the course of your own spirit. Are you a living legacy, not hyperbole, you are a living legacy and proof of john mccains success. Now john is going to take his rightful place in a long line of extraordinary leaders in this nations history, in their time and in their way stood for freedom and stood for liberty and have made the american story the most improbable and the most hopeful and the most enduring story on earth. I know john said he hoped he played a small part in that story. John, you did much more than that, my friend. To paraphrase shakespeare, we shall not see his like again. [voice breaking] [applause] the second reading from second timothy chapter 4, verses 6 through 8. For im already being poured out like a drink offering. The time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, i have finished the race, i have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the lord, the righteous judge, will award on that day. Not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. I love you arizona. Your mountains, deserts and streams. The jesus, at the final meal, shared with his friends, charged them remember me. Remember me in the breaking of the bread. Bread has to be broken to be shared. We are celebrating today the life of a man who unselfishly was broken, that we might be one again. John mccain. Our brother, jesus brother. To remember, to bring together john mccain, i invite you to share the words of henry scott holland. Laugh, as we always laughed at jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever that household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without effect, without a trace of shadow on it. We pray lord god may john mccains vision be in our eyes. His voice in our words and our tongue. His listening to the needs of others in our ears. His love for his country in our hearts. Bless you, john mccain, in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. [bagpipes] as we come to a close, id like to read some words that were beautifully written by his daughter, megan. My father is gone, and i miss him as only be a adoring daughter can. But in this loss, and in this sorrow, i take comfort in this. John mccain, hero, as a to his little girl wakes to something more glorious than anything on this earth. Today the warrior enters his true and eternal life greeted by those who have gone before him. And she writes, rising to meet the author of all things. We will grieve, we will mourn, but i want you to think about her words. In this very moment, senator john mccain is in heaven. With god, the father, and jesus the son. No more cancer, no more pain, no more sickness, no more burdens of this world. In fact his biggest concern is probably what channel do i have to find in heaven in order to watch larry play on sunday. [laughing] all joking aside hes a free man and hes more alive than hes ever been. Senator mccain, professed christianity and here is the hope in what senator mccain believed, romans 3 23, for all have send and fallen short of the glory of god. He knew romans 6 23, that the wages of sin was death, the get of god was eternal life through his john, jesus christ. To the hope that we have as the good news that senator john mccain believed this passage from john 3 16, that for god so loved the world that he gave his only bee gotten son that who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. When we grieve and when we mourn, understand that he has eternal life and is with the father in heaven because of his faith in jesus christ. That is something to find comfort in. That is the reason why megan can write these words so beautifully. Let us pray together. Father as we leave from this place, we ask you to give comfort to cindy and the family. As Vice President joe biden said, there will be days that the freshness of this loss hits them hard, father. And in those moments, lord, when they find themselves by themselves mourning this deep pain and sorrow, will you comfort them, god. Will you give them the strengths they need to walk every single day. And, god, as we mourn, as your scripture says, we mourn differently with those who have hope. Senator john mccain believed that you sent your only son to walk this earth and live a sinless life, to die on the cross for our since, for the things that we deserved. We believe that jesus christ was put in the tomb and rose again, and he defeated death. That is the reason to celebrate and that is a reason for us to have comfort. In jesus name we pray, amen. Amen. I want to thank you all, again, on behalf of the mccain family for being here and supporting them. At this moment well ask you to stay seated until the family, the entire family has exited the building. [no audio] [no audio] [ my way] thats the end of the ceremony in arizona. The first of remembrances for john mccain, the favorite son of arizona. There in the capitol in arizona, john mccain being given such lovely tributes from people such as Vice President joe biden, and Arizona CardinalLarry Fitzgerald, moving tributes, lovely and Amazing Stories as well. The entire service designed by john mccain in the months before his passing before passing of cancer last saturday at age 81. After two years in the house of representatives, john mccain became a senator in 1987, taking the seat of conservative Barry Goldwater. He held that seat for 32 years. This is just the beginning of several days of tributes to john mccain. Stay tuned to this fox station and Fox News Channel for continuing kormg. Im dana perino, in new york. Dana senator john mccain honored in phoenix. Friends and family remembering him with a second day of tears and tributes. Former white house chief of staff karl rove and Morgan Ortega standing by with recollections of the late senators. We begin with Trace Gallagher in phoenix. Trace . Trace were looking at the church, we expect senator mccains casket to come out at any moment. It was funny, it was very emotional, it was john mccains handpicked finest moments. It began with amazing grace, it ended with my way. They had amazing speeches by first of all the former attorney general of arizona, grant woods, talked about how he ran john mccains first Congressional Campaign and john mccain liked to drive to these Campaign Events even though he said john mccain wasnt a very good driver. How john mccain called a Senior Community called leasure world he referred to it as seizure world. You see the casket brought out of the church. John mccain thought he should apologize to those senior citizens. One of them at the gate gave him the finger. Extra at any time woods ended by saying that john mccain fought the fight and finished the race. His friend, tommy espinoza, was asked by john mccain to run, to cochair his Congressional Campaign. Tommy el pi nose a said i had to remind him im a democrat. Espinoza still signed on. Pause for an second as they slide the coffin inside the hearse. [silence] [silence] [silence] trace it is symbolism, tradition that is well worth pausing for. We will see that again several times this weekend. You mentioned Larry Fitzgerald, the wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, who also spoke. He talked about the things he and john mccain had in common, have in common, im black and hes white. And im young and hes old. And he ran for president and i ran out of bounds. Then Larry Fitzgerald ended with a very wonderful tribute from Jackie Robinson who said your life is not important except to those whose lives you impact. And former Vice President joe biden, also spoke. Listen to this. Above all, we understood the same thing. All politics is personal. Its all about trust. I trusted john with my life. And i would. And i think he would trust me with his. Joe biden said that he and john mccain thought of themselves as brothers. Brothers who often had family fights. A touching tribute. The hearse will go to sky harbor airport, his casket will be flown to washington, d. C. Yesterday was a time for paying your respects to john mccain. Tooled its for arizonians to say good boo i. To john mccain. Dana thank you. Well bring in karl rove and more began ortegas. Karl, you knew john mccain very well. Certainly when you have this kind of country that is outpouring there, of support and condolences to the family and real feeling that an American Hero has passed. I know that you knew him well, too, and ill give you a chance to tell us a little about your feelings today. Well, as you say, a great American Hero has departed. And to me one of the Amazing Things was how much we dont know about john mccain that was known to those who are close to him. A friend of his was colonel bud day. The only american who receive the congressional medal of honor and distinguished flying cross. He through in world war ii, korea, shot down in vietnam. And was a close friend of mccains. They served together as p. O. W. S in north vietnam. He told me how mccain had been called upon to give, reluctantly, the sermon at one of the clandestine religious services that the p. O. W. S held. They werent allowed to hold services, they held them in secret. Mccain was designated as chaplain. Much to his dismay. He said im not particularly deeply religious. Bud said well you went to e