John McCain believed in 'the soul of America,' Joe Biden says at tribute

An estimated 3,500 mourners crowded into an Arizona church Thursday to remember Sen. John McCain after a motorcade carrying his body made its way past people waving American flags and campaign-style signs.

Family members watched in silence as uniformed military members removed the Republican senator's flag-draped casket from a black hearse and carried it into the North Phoenix Baptist for the commemoration.

Former vice-president Joe Biden said  his friendship with McCain "transcended whatever great political differences we had."

"I trusted John with my life," he said.

Biden drew laughs by recounting how McCain relished a good fight on the Senate floor.

Biden and McCain were Senate colleagues for about two decades. The Democrat in his speech lamented the increasing partisanship that characterized Congress toward the end of their mutual time together in the legislative body, with each getting flak from their respective party colleagues for fraternizing too much.

McCain, who served in Congress since 1983 and in the U.S. Senate since 1987. died on Aug. 25.

Biden said it was clear McCain's death has resonated with Americans.

"I think it's because they knew John believed so deeply, so passionately, in the soul of America. That he made it easier for them to have confidence and faith in America."

Biden told McCain's family he understood that there was nothing anyone could do to ease their pain. The same aggressive brain cancer that claimed McCain also claimed their friend Biden's son, Beau, as well as their longtime colleague Ted Kennedy.

"I pray you take some comfort knowing that because you shared John with all of us your whole life, the world now shares with you the ache of John's death," he said.

Twenty-four sitting U.S. senators, four former senators and other leaders from Arizona were said to be attending the service for McCain, the former prisoner of war and two-time presidential candidate.

McCain's daughter, Bridget, read a Bible verse at the beginning of her father's service before the longtime Arizona senator's chief of staff started the speeches.

Grant Woods drew laughs Thursday as he said McCain was a bad driver and would introduce Woods to new staff members by saying, "You'll have to fire half of them."

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald also spoke at the service for McCain, an avid sports fan. Fitzgerald said he felt compelled to visit Vietnam after getting to know McCain, even visiting the notorious Hanoi Hilton where the Naval officer was held prisoner by the North Vietnamese for part of his 5½ years in captivity after his Skyhawk bomber was shot down.

Fitzgerald drew laughs highlighting the contrasts between the pair and by recounting how McCain would occasionally text, "You need to pick it up this Sunday."

The veteran NFLer said he was grateful for being invited to McCain's Sedona Forum, where individuals from different fields gathered to share knowledge and discuss societal issues.

"Ours was an unlikely friendship, but it is one I will always cherish," said Fitzgerald.

About 1,000 seats for the church service were made available to members of the public who signed up.

Tommy Espinoza, president and CEO of the Raza Development Fund, said in his remarks the senator was truly a maverick.

He said that during McCain's first race for Senate, McCain called him to ask if he would co-chair his campaign. Espinoza said he responded, "You know I'm a Democrat," drawing laughs.

'A true American hero'

Espinoza, then head of Chicanos Por La Causa, says McCain told him they were friends and he wanted his help.

He mentioned McCain's work for comprehensive immigration reform with Kennedy and says he believed it cost him a presidential campaign.

The church's senior pastor Noe Garcia called McCain "a true American hero."

Outside the church, honour guard member Valentine Costalez praised McCain for championing the military during his Senate career.

"He's done so much for us," said Costalez, who stood watch earlier this week while McCain's body was at a funeral home.

At the church, a choir from the Jesuit-run Brophy College Preparatory school that two of McCain's sons attended sang Amazing Grace and Arizona.

The music chosen for the reception was Frank Sinatra's signature My Way, paying tribute to a man who became known for following his own path based on his personal principles.

McCain's survivors include his 106-year-old mother Roberta, who was not at the service.

McCain's body was flown to Washington on Thursday afternoon. It will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol on Friday before a service at the Washington National Cathedral on Saturday. That service will be followed by a burial at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama are expected to speak at the service on Saturday.

Large public turnout

A motorcade took McCain's body along a 12-kilometre route from the state Capitol to the church.

At a private service at the Capitol for family and friends on Wednesday, Cindy McCain pressed her face against her husband's coffin, and daughter Meghan McCain erupted in sobs.

McCain sons Doug, Jack and Jimmy, daughter Sidney and daughter-in-law Renee shook hands with some of those who paid their final respects.

The much smaller service at the Capitol was filled with affecting moments and demonstrations of deep respect for the statesman.

Gov. Doug Ducey remembered McCain as "Arizona's favourite adopted son" on what would have been his 82nd birthday.

The Capitol was then opened to the public in the afternoon, allowing visitors to walk past the closed casket after waiting in line outside in temperatures that reached 40 C.

The McCain family said about 15,000 people came to pay their respects at the Capitol.

With files from CBC News