A war hero, Senator and Presidential contender, the death of John McCain elicited an outpouring of emotion from his congressional colleagues, current and former Democrats and Republicans alike. The 81-year-old McCain was widely esteemed on Capitol Hill. First elected to the House in 1982, McCain served in the Senate for more than 31 years.
Fearless and honest, McCain lived by a set of virtues that brought strength and courage to his life and to his country. A prisoner of war, McCain spent 5 ½ years in captivity in North Vietnam. During his harrowing ordeal, he was completely at the mercy of his captors, and endured countless brutal attacks during his imprisonment. Nevertheless, this experience never broke his resolve, or his loyalty to America. From his personal life and war record, to his political courage and then his political platform, John McCain embodied the idea of service over self.
Suffering from a lengthy battle with brain cancer, McCain passed away on August 25, 2018 at his ranch in Arizona with his family at his side. The US Council of Muslim Organizations honors John McCain’s life and legacy, and mourns the loss of an American hero, public servant and man of integrity.
