81-Year-Old Senator John McCain Passes Away

McCain
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McCain

One day after announcing he stopped his cancer treatment, Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., passed away on Aug. 25, 2018, four days shy of his 82nd birthday.

He lived a long event-filled life. The senator demonstrated his spirit of determination repeatedly throughout during the roughest of situations. McCain’s most recent act of patriotism was traveling to Washington to cast his vote against repealing the Affordable Care Act while fighting aggressive cancer.

Not only was John Sidney McCain III a third-generation naval officer, but he was awarded a Prisoner of War Medal after surviving more than five years of torture at the hands of the Vietnamese in Hanoi.

During his service as a Naval Aviator, Captian McCain earned many military decorations and awards. In addition to the POW Medal, he received two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Purple Hearts, two Legions of Merits, three Bronze stars, and a Silver Star.

McCain was elected to the House of Representatives in 1982. After serving two terms, he was elected the U.S. Senate. Before his death, he was the “chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and a member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs,” according to People Magazine.

He ran for the office of the United States President twice, his most recent in 2015. It was a difficult campaign and he graciously dealt with harsh criticism from then-candidate Donald Trump, who called this brave man and war hero — coward.

McCain was called a political maverick, a well-deserved nic-name that defined his perseverance while serving America and during his declining health.

His family extends gratefulness to the outpouring of kindness from around the world. No information as to the arrangements for a funeral or memorial has been announced.

Written by Cathy Milne

Sources:

ABC15 Arizona: Arizona Senator John McCain has passed away at the age of 81
People Magazine: Sen. John McCain, Maverick Politician and Decorated War Veteran, Dies at 81

Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Rona Proudfoot’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

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