(Photo by Eric E Johnson)

(Photo by Elly Yu)

The lines to view Senator John McCain’s casket—which was placed atop the same wooden catafalque that held the casket of Abraham Lincoln—swelled Friday morning and afternoon. Hundreds of people have been waiting in the stifling heat for hours to see the senator as he lies in state at the Capitol.

“The Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol has been considered the most suitable place for the nation to pay final tribute to its most eminent citizens by having their remains lay in state (in the case of government officials and military officers) or in honor (in the case of private citizens),” the Architect of the Capitol explains. McCain is only the 13th senator and 31st person to be honored in that way.

A heavy rain fell as his casket was brought to Capitol this morning.

The rotunda opened to the public at 1 p.m., but people began gathering hours beforehand. Oppressive heat caused several people to pass out while waiting in the winding lines outside the Capitol.

But many were determined to stick it out and pay their respects to the senator.

“I don’t mind [waiting in line], not one bit. I took off work today to be here, it meant that much to me,” 69-year-old Tyrone Wilson, a Rockville resident, said Friday afternoon. “I just think he represented everything good for America. I admire all the struggles he went through, and his temperament that he kept throughout his entire career, and the fairness that he exemplified for everyone to follow. I think he would have made a great president.”

Some people who came to pay their respects didn’t agree with McCain on policy, but still wanted to honor the senator and Vietnam War veteran.

“I disagree with 99 percent of his politics, but a great man, a great patriot, overcomes all of those things,” says Jesse Alvarez, another man waiting in line Friday afternoon. “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen someone so unabashedly patriotic… He’s done us a great service by organizing his funeral this way to reawaken that spirit.”

On Saturday morning, there will be a procession from the Capitol to the Washington National Cathedral, where a private funeral will be held. On Sunday, the senator will be laid to rest at the Naval Academy in Annapolis.

Here are more details about the events taking place in D.C.

Friday, 8/31

Senator McCain lies in state at the U.S. Capitol.

A ceremony to honor McCain’s life began at 11 a.m.—only people with Congressional credentials were permitted to attend. A livestream is available here.

Members of the public are free to pay their respects to the senator starting at 1 p.m., but the queue began early this morning. Lines have formed on First Street NW/SW, between Constitution and Independence Ave, or on Second Street NE/SE, between East Capitol and Independence Ave SE.

Note: Members of the public are not allowed to bring flowers, letters, or tokens of any kind into the Capitol Rotunda. Weapons, liquids, and bags bigger than 18” wide x 14” high x 8.5” deep are also banned.

The viewing ends at 8 p.m., but those still in line at that time will still be able to pay their respects.

Street Closures: The Capitol Police will be closing streets in the area from Thursday night through Saturday. East Capitol Street will be closed from Second Street NE/SE to First Street NE/SE. First Street NE/SE will be closed from Constitution Ave., NE to Independence Ave. SE.

Saturday, September 1

At around 8:30 a.m., McCain will travel by motorcade from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Cathedral, where a private funeral will take place. The motorcade will stop at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where McCain’s widow, Cindy McCain, will lay a wreath. Members of the public can line up on the process route along Constitution Avenue, if they would like to see the motorade and pay their respects.

You can see a full map of the procession route on the senator’s website, here.

McCain’s private funeral at the Washington Cathedral will begin at 10 a.m. Both Barack Obama and George W. Bush will be delivering eulogies. You can watch a livestream of the service on the senator’s website.

Elly Yu contributed reporting.

Filed Under: john mccain, Senator John McCain, u.s. capitol,