I found it truly amazing – and encouraging for this country – that so many people made the trip to the US Capitol and waited in incredibly long lines and oppressive heat to view Senator John McCain lying in state.

This triple line stretched to Independence Avenue NE, which isn’t visible in this photo, and went just as far in the opposite direction to Constitution Avenue NE.

*****

On Friday, I walked to the US Capitol, where Senator John McCain was lying in state. It’s not like me to do something like this, but like many Americans I mourned the passing of a true patriot and man of honor. Throughout the day some 16,000 people waited in a line that doubled and tripled an entire city block, in blistering heat, for a chance to pay their last respects to McCain in the Rotunda.

I didn’t go in as I had a camera with me, which was prohibited, plus I was dressed in shorts, which would have been disrespectful, so I stayed outside and paid my respects from there and also took some pictures of the crowd.

I've decided to do a very small gallery from my afternoon at the Capitol.

Final respects to Senator John McCain, posted earlier: