‘One of the bravest souls’: Ceremony honors McCain at US Capitol

Members of the public pay their respects as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., lies in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Comedian Dave Chappelle, center, walks through the Rotunda as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., lies in state at the U.S. Capitol, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

The casket of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., lies in state at the U.S. Capitol, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)

Roberta McCain, the 106-year-old mother of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., stops at his flag-draped casket in the U.S. Capitol rotunda during a farewell ceremony, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Washington. McCain was a six-term senator, a former Republican nominee for president, and a Navy pilot who served in Vietnam, where he endured five-and-a-half years as a prisoner of war. He died Aug. 25 from brain cancer at age 81. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) — Roberta McCain, the 106-year-old mother of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., stops at his flag-draped casket in the U.S. Capitol rotunda during a farewell ceremony, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi pause by the casket of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in the Capitol Rotunda where he will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool Photo via AP)

Lorraine Johnson of Alexrandia traveled to the nation's capitol to pay her respects to the late Sen. John McCain. (WTOP/Krisit King) — Lorraine Johnson of Alexrandia was one of many who traveled to the nation’s capitol to pay their respects to the late Sen. John McCain. (WTOP/Kristi King)

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y. watches as a wreath is brought in to be placed at the casket of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., as he lies in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger touches the casket of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., as he lies in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)

Vice President Mike Pence speaks during a ceremony as. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., lies in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Washington. (Pool photo by Morry Gash via AP)

Cindy McCain touches the casket of her husband, former Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in the Capitol Rotunda where he will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool Photo via AP)

The flag-draped casket of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., lies in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Washington. In the foreground is Cindy McCain and Vice President Mike Pence. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool Photo via AP)

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and his wife Cheryl Flake depart a ceremony for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., as he lies in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)

Mike Pence speaks in front of Senator John McCain's casket in the Capitol Rotunda. (WTOP/Chris Cioffi) — Vice President Mike Pence speaks in front of Senator John McCain’s casket in the Capitol Rotunda. (WTOP/Chris Cioffi)

Senators Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer lay a wreath at John McCain's casket in the Capitol Rotunda. (WTOP/Chris Cioffi) — Senators Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer lay a wreath at John McCain’s casket in the Capitol Rotunda. (WTOP/Chris Cioffi)

John McCain's wife Cindy McCain pays her respects to her late husband as the service concluded. (WTOP/Chris Cioffi) — John McCain’s wife, Cindy McCain, paid her respects to her late husband as the service concluded. (WTOP/Chris Cioffi)

The flag-draped casket of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is carried up the steps to lie in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., center, accompanied by an aide, walks through the Rotunda before the casket of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., lies in state at the U.S. Capitol, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., walks through the Rotunda before the casket of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., lies in state at the U.S. Capitol, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., right, speaks to an aide before the casket of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., lies in state in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)

Barricades surrounding the U.S. Capitol before McCain's ceremony. (WTOP/Sarah Beth Hensley) — Barricades surrounding the U.S. Capitol before McCain’s ceremony. (WTOP/Sarah Beth Hensley)

Visitors wanting to pay their respects to the late Arizona senator lined up five hours before the public viewing. One visitor said waiting in line is "not as bad as spending five years as a POW." (WTOP/Nick Iannelli) — Visitors wanting to pay their respects to the late Arizona senator lined up five hours before the public viewing. One visitor said waiting in line is “not as bad as spending five years as a POW.” (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)

Volunteers with the American Red Cross coordinate to assist people in line for the Rotunda who may be struggling in the late-summer heat. (WTOP/Kristi King)

Barricades are set up for the expected crowds at Friday's memorial events for John McCain. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli) — Barricades are set up for the expected crowds at Friday’s memorial event for John McCain. He will lie in state at the Capitol. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)

Early morning on Friday, barricades were already set up for blocks ahead of John McCain's memorial event. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli) — Early morning on Friday, barricades were already set up for blocks ahead of John McCain’s memorial event. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)

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WWASHINGTON — Family, friends and Capitol Hill staffers gathered at the U.S. Capitol to honor the late Sen. John McCain as he was lain in state on Friday.

Rain fell over McCain’s casket as it was taken out of the hearse and moved into the Capitol Rotunda, where only 30 other Americans have lain in state. A solemn prayer kicked off the ceremony.

Sen. Mitch McConnell spoke to those attending the private ceremony at the rotunda, saying McCain embodied “America’s fighting spirit,” and calling him a friend.

“It is only right that today, near the end of his long journey, John lies here, in this great hall, under the mighty dome, like other American heroes before him,” McConnell said. “We thank God for giving this country John McCain.”

House Speaker Paul Ryan called McCain “one of the bravest souls our nation has ever produced.” Ryan said the senator won the affection of U.S. citizens and urged those who admire him to “stand up and embrace the cause of his life.”

McCain, a former Navy aviator, really did “talk like a sailor,” Ryan said, drawing smiles from the crowd. “But you see, with John, it wasn’t feigned disagreement. The man didn’t feign anything. He just relished the fight.”

Vice President Mike Pence spoke on McCain’s years held captive as a prisoner of war and his time serving in Congress. Through it all, McCain “held firm to the faith of our fathers and held fast to the faith in America,” Pence said, referencing the late senator’s 2016 memoir and a classic American hymn.

“We gather here to honor an American patriot,” Pence said. “John McCain served his country and John McCain served his country honorably.”

Following the services, those in attendance paid their respects at McCain’s casket one at a time.

Those wanting to pay their respects lined up between First Street NW/SW between Constitution and Independence avenues or Second Street NE/SE between East Capitol Street and Independence Avenue SE.

Visitors began lining up as early as 8 a.m. For one visitor hoping to pay his respects at the Capitol Rotunda, waiting five hours in line for McCain was “not as bad as spending five years as a POW.”

There are also a number of street closures in effect until 11 p.m. Saturday. U.S. Capitol Police warn of any other possible closures around the area that may happen as necessary.

Only a handful of Americans have lain in state or honor at the U.S. Capitol since the Rotunda was completed in 1824.

Before arriving in D.C., McCain was lain in state at the Arizona State Capitol on Wednesday, on what would have been his 82nd birthday. At the Arizona funeral service, former Vice President Joe Biden said he thought of McCain as a brother, and North Phoenix Baptist Church senior pastor Noe Garcia called the former prisoner of war “a true American hero.”

Private services at National Cathedral Saturday

After McCain lies in state at the U.S. Capitol, he will then be carried to the Washington National Cathedral in Northwest D.C. on Saturday for a memorial service that will include tributes from former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

The service is set to start at 10 a.m. A livestream of the service will be available Saturday morning.

Saturday’s procession, which starts at 8:30 a.m., includes a stop at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where McCain’s wife, Cindy McCain, will lay a ceremonial wreath. The public is invited to line the procession route along Constitution Avenue.

Though McCain’s father and grandfather are buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, the decorated Vietnam War veteran will be laid to rest Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Maryland, next to his lifelong friend and academy classmate Adm. Chuck Larson.

McCain died on Saturday, Aug. 25 at the age of 81 after a yearlong battle with brain cancer.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.