Senator John Sidney McCain III passed away at the age of 80 on August 25th, marking the end of his battle with Glioblastoma, a rare form of cancer that affect the brain and spine. He was surrounded by his wife, Cindy McCain, and family. 

McCain fought in the Vietnam War and in Operation Rolling Thunder. According to The New York Times, McCain was a “son and grandson of admirals, naval aviator, tortured prisoner, congressman, six-term senator, two-time presidential candidate, patriot, maverick, reformer, warrior, curmudgeon, father, husband and finally, in death, American icon.”

McCain achieved many things in his lifetime. He fought for his country and continued to make his country better through the Senate.

Obama, who ran against McCain in the 2008 presidential election, was one of the speakers at McCain’s funeral. In Obama’s eulogy, he stated, “President Bush and I are among the fortunate few who competed against John at the highest levels of politics. He made us better presidents. Just as he made the Senate better. Just as he made this country better.”

McCain once declared, “Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself, something that encompasses you but is not defined by your existence alone.”