My John McCain Draft

John S McCain III is a great leader and role model. He has dutifully served his country in the U.S. Navy, the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as the U.S. Senate.  He is a devoted husband to Cindy, a father of 7 children and grandfather of 4. He was held as a POW for just over 5 years in the “Hanoi Hilton”. He is a highly decorated Naval Captain, Retired. Through it all, he has thought of others more than himself. Every day, John gives great leadership to the state of Arizona and speaks for those who can’t find their voice. He is compassionate. He is a humanitarian. He is my hero.

        In the spring of 1993, I was a young, impressionable teenager sitting in my Government and Politics class, sitting in the front row. All of the sudden, there was a loud and almost angry knock at the door. My teacher went over, opened it up and got the biggest smile on his face. He stepped aside and in came all these intimidating men. They were all dressed in dark navy suits with red ties. They all had black sunglasses on and white ear pieces in their right ears. A few of them were talking into the palm of their hands. I was absolutely terrified. Out of the crowed of navy suits appeared an Army Chaplain and an Army Sergeant. My heart sank. With the country at war, I was sure that they were coming to tell me that my Uncle or Brother-in-law was not coming home. I started to cry.

        The presence of these men was unnerving as it was and now I’m crying. One man came over to me. He was an older gentleman. He was dressed in a Navy Military uniform with brass buttons and medals hanging from his chest. He set his lid on my desk. He looked back at his crowd and looked back at me. “Oh. You must me the young Miss Blakley”, he said. Trying my best to not break down even further, I mustered up the voice to say “Yes, Sir” while choking back my tears. He said “I have met your Uncle Duke, he speaks highly of you. I just saw him deplane in Phoenix. He is home.” I let out such a sob and huge sigh of relief.  He said my Brother-in-law was on his way back to Tennessee and I no longer had to worry about their safety. I balled like a baby. I excused myself to the ladies room to regain my now shattered composure.

        I returned to the classroom where everyone was waiting on me. I sat back down and was trying to figure this whole thing out. MY family was safe. I wasn’t in any trouble. So, why were they here? Just then, that man spoke. “Hi”, he said. “I’m John McCain, your Arizona State Senator. I had the pleasure of meeting Sandi’s family on my recent trip to Iraq. I was first on the USS Ronald Reagan, where I met her Uncle Duke. He asked me to get word to you that he was alright, perfectly safe, and he loved you.  He then just opened up. He told me all about you and your love of your government and country. I told him I would relay the message. I then came across this other soldier. His name was Sean Jones. He also asked me to get a message out. He said he was able to get a phone call to his wife, but wasn’t able to call his sister-in-law. He said she would worry if she didn’t hear from him every week. He asked me to tell you that he was fine and dandy and he would be home soon. He also started telling me about how your talks with him just raised his spirits. You always ended your talks with love and you told him you were proud of him and you thanked him for his duty. He said that it was pretty amazing to hear that from 16 years old. So, after meeting these two men, I had to come and meet you.”  The entire school was then called to the auditorium for a guest speaker. There, Senator McCain spoke of dedication, the importance of being involved, being compassionate towards your fellow man, the great honor of voting, as well as, how to be a great leader and be a model citizen. That is how I met and fell in love with Senator John S. McCain III.