{"id":14896,"date":"2019-07-02T17:01:19","date_gmt":"2019-07-02T17:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/07\/02\/cindy-mccain-accepts-warships-commissioning-pennant\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:54:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:54:15","slug":"cindy-mccain-accepts-warships-commissioning-pennant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2019\/07\/02\/cindy-mccain-accepts-warships-commissioning-pennant\/","title":{"rendered":"Cindy McCain accepts warship\u2019s commissioning pennant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cindy McCain, the wife of the late Sen. John S. McCain III, was given a cherished memento on Monday \u2014 the commissioning pennant from the guided-missile destroyer that honors the legacies of her husband, his father and grandfather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She accepted the banner during a visit to Fleet Activities Yokosuka in Japan for a change of command ceremony on board the John S. McCain. The Arizona Republic<\/a> reported that she plans to display it in her Phoenix home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was very humbling again to be back on board and to be with so many people who really care a great deal about the ship and the history,\u201d Cindy McCain said, according to the newspaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ceremony coincided with the 25th anniversary of the destroyer\u2019s commissioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commissioned on July 2, 1994 in Bath, Maine, the warship\u2019s name originally honored the admirals John S. McCain Sr. and Jr. In a July 12, 2018, rededication ceremony, Navy leaders added the late Sen. John S. McCain III as a namesake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Republican, Sen. McCain died on Aug. 25, 2018, after a bout with brain cancer. A strike pilot during the Vietnam War, he was held as a prisoner of war for five years. Although tortured, he refused early release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A portrait of Sen. McCain also was unveiled Monday. It will be placed next to portraits of his father and grandfather on board the warship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI mentioned today, I believe John is the same kind of hero with the great stature and esteem that both his father and grandfather were. And he\u2019s not only well-suited to be part of this ship, but I think well deserving of it,” Cindy McCain said, according to the newspaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cindy McCain, the sponsor of the guided-missile destroyer John S. McCain and the wife of the late Sen. John S. McCain III. pauses for a moment after receiving the ship\u2019s commissioning pennant from the crew during the ship\u2019s 25th anniversary and change of command ceremony on Monday at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. (Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Torrey W. Lee\/Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

McCain\u2019s sons Jimmy and Jack attended the event, along with daughter-in-law Renee Swift McCain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack McCain graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2009 and in April returned from a deployment to Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about continuity and it\u2019s about continuing on in the tradition of service and leadership and honor and dignity that these McCain heroes have been,\u201d Cindy McCain said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Stars and Stripes, she had not visited the destroyer since the 2018 rededication ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\t