Senator John McCain Honored At Memorial Service In Washington D.C.

Hundreds of mourners gathered at Washington's National Cathedral for a memorial service honoring the late Arizona Senator John McCain on Saturday (September 1) morning. 

Senator McCain's daughter, Meghan, opened the service giving a tearful eulogy calling her father "a great fire who burned bright." She took multiple swipes at President Donald Trump, who was not invited to the service.  

Ms. McCain said that her father's death represented "the passing of American greatness, the real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice, those that live lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served."

She went on to say that "the America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great."

"The America of John McCain is generous and welcoming and bold. She's resourceful, confident, secure. She meets her responsibilities. She speaks quietly because she's strong. America does not boast because she has no need to. The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again because America was always great."

Former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama also spoke and remembered sparring with McCain when he ran against them in a bid to become president. 

"Back in the day, he could frustrate me. And I know he'd say the same thing about me. But he also made me better," Bush said before adding that the "rivalry melted away," and the two became friends.

"I got to enjoy one of life's great gifts, the friendship of John McCain. And I'll miss it," Bush said. 

President Obama said that running against McCain during the 2008 presidential election made him a better person and a better president. Obama reminisced about their private conversations in the Oval Office during his presidency. 

"But we enjoyed the time we shared away from the bright lights. And we laughed with each other. And we learned from each other. And we never doubted the other man's sincerity or the other man's patriotism. Or that when all was said and done, we were on the same team." 

McCain will be buried on Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He died last Saturday (August 25) at the age of 81 following a battle with brain cancer.  McCain was a decorated war veteran and former prisoner of war who served in the Senate for three decades.  

 Photo: Getty Images