remembering Senator John McCain it's our
top story tonight the long-serving
senator losing his battle to brain
cancer he was surrounded by his wife and
family the flag at the White House
flying at half-staff tonight officials
also lowering the flag at the US Capitol
building
Senator McCain was 81 years old and
everyone from friends and family to
lawmakers on either side of the aisle
they're reacting Roy ramus is in the
newsroom with a look back in McCain's
remarkable life and legacy Roy and I
want to go and take you to live pictures
from Sedona Arizona where the Hearst
carrying McCain's body is now being
taken from that home to Phoenix where he
will be laid to rest he was a real
American hero who spent much of his life
in public service and became one of the
most distinctive figures in American
politics we have learned that he passed
away with his family by his side at that
home the senator husband and father
passing away but not before leaving
behind a life legacy John Sidney McCain
the third a political maverick in
Vietnam war hero with more than 35 years
of public service died Saturday at his
home in Arizona he was 81 McCain was
born in a US military base near the
Panama Canal and grew up in Northern
Virginia he was the middle child of
three a family of Navy Admirals he
attended the Naval Academy and became a
combat aviator but in 1967 he was shot
down captured and later tortured
spending five years in a North
Vietnamese Jail they have to have faith
that your country and your countrymen
are doing everything they can to bring
you home as quickly as possible
the decorated war hero turning to
politics as a second calling he was a
sixth term Republican senator who ran
for president twice McCain gained an
outsized influence by going against his
own party and negotiating with Democrats
even after facing a crushing defeat to
Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential
election I'm not running for president
to be somebody but to do something true
to form McCain didn't fade away he
turned his misfortune into the role of
older Republican statesmen a party
leader unwilling to bend to pressure one
of the senators most dramatic acts of
defiance is July 2017 no vote on the GOP
skinny
health care repeal already suffering
from the aggressive brain cancer that
would ultimately claim his life he
stretched out his right arm with a
thumbs down in one of several failed
attempts to dismantle Obamacare the
senator who was married to Cindy McCain
raised four children including an
adopted daughter from Bangladesh his
wife reacting to her husband's death
tweeting out my heart is broken I am so
lucky to have lived the adventure of
loving this incredible man for 38 years
he passed the way he lived on his own
terms
surrounded by people he loved in the
place he loved best McCain revealed a
short time ago he chosen to discontinue
medical treatment sadly aware of its
inevitable outcome his daughter Megan
saying he was a great fire who burned
bright and we lived in his light and
warmth for so long we know that his
flame lives on in each of us President
Donald Trump reacting to the devoted
politicians death tweeting out my
deepest sympathies and respect go out to
the family of Senator John McCain our
hearts and prayers are with you and new
tonight Senate Minority Leader Chuck
Schumer says he will introduce a
resolution to rename the Senate's
Russell office building after Senator
McCain McCain is survived by his wife
Cindy and his seven children in the
newsroom are Ramos local tennis an
incredible full life Roy thank you
reaction has been pouring in all night
about the death of Senator John McCain
his colleague in the Senate Senator
Marco Rubio releasing this statement
John McCain sacrifices to his country
are immeasurable with his passing today
America has lost more than a leader and
more than a senator we've lost a true
American Hero Senator Bill Nelson
reacting on Twitter writing John McCain
was my friend and one of my heroes he
devoted his life to duty honor and
country he shall always be a role model
for me US Representative Ileana
ros-lehtinen posted a picture of herself
with McCain and wrote this an American
Hero passed away but his legacy will
endure a fighter through and through
Senator John McCain was a patriot and a
true American Hero Dexter and I were
proud to know him and Florida Governor
Rick Scott released a statement saying
in part John will always be a beacon of
hope and perseverance for America he was
a true fighter and fought every day for
this country
lastly former president and former first
lady Barack and Michelle Obama releasing
a joint statement that reads few of us
have been tested the way that John once
was or required to know the kind of
courage that he did but all of us can
aspire to the courage to put the greater
good above our own at John's best he
showed us what that means and for that
we are all in his debt local 10 News has
much more on the passing of Senator John
McCain online go to local 10 dot-com and