President Donald Trump issued a statement on Aug. 27, about the passing of Sen. John McCain, giving his respects while signing an order to fly the American flag at half-staff.
“I have asked Vice President Mike Pence to offer an address at the ceremony honoring Senator McCain at the United States Capitol this Friday,” Trump said, adding that with McCain’s family’s approval, he ordered the military transportation of the longtime Arizona senator’s remains from his home state to Washington.
There, “military pallbearers and band support, and a horse and caisson transport” will partake in a funeral service at the U.S. Naval Academy, his statement added.
Trump, meanwhile, said he’s asked White House chief of staff John Kelly, Defense Secretary James Mattis, and national security adviser John Bolton to represent him at McCain’s funeral.
In his proclamation, Trump said that the U.S. flag will be flown “at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds” as well as at all military posts and naval stations across the United States and around the world, including “all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions.” It will last until sunset, according to his proclamation.
Flags at embassies, consular offices, and legations will also be flown at half-staff.
The family of McCain, a U.S. Navy pilot who was captured during the Vietnam War and was held for five years at the Hoa Lo Prison—known colloquially as the “Hanoi Hilton”—by the communist North Vietnamese, announced last week that he would halt medical treatment for brain cancer. His death came shortly after.
