John McCain’s mother, 106, attends son’s memorial service

When John McCain ’ s flag -draped casket was carried into the US Capitol Friday, among those honoring the senator was a woman who lived through the turbulence of his iconic career and life: his 106- year -old mother .
Half a century after she was told her son had been shot down over Vietnam — where he was held prisoner for five years — Roberta McCain cut a stoic figure at the memorial for the statesman , who died last weekend following a battle with brain cancer .
The silver-haired family matriarch kept her composure as she was wheeled into the Capitol Rotunda where she comforted her weeping granddaughter Meghan McCain, holding her hand and whispering in her ear .
It was the first time Roberta McCain joined the ceremonies , which began earlier this week in McCain ’ s adopted home state of Arizona , to honor her son .
Dressed in a translucent polka dot outer blouse, she remained composed throughout the hour -long Capitol tribute as Vice President Mike Pence lauded her “ American patriot” son and congressional colleagues praised him as a national treasure.
When she finally approached the casket, she crossed herself somberly and quietly exited the Rotunda.
McCain was a brash US Navy fighter pilot who cheated death on multiple occasions. But in 1967, Roberta McCain was convinced she had lost her son forever .
She and her husband were in London, dressing for a party at the Iranian ambassador’ s residence, when they got a call saying her “ Johnny, ” as she continues to call him , was shot down over Hanoi , and there was no evidence of an ejection.
The following day , a steward broke the news to them that McCain had been captured as a prisoner of war .
“ Can you believe that’ s the best news I ever had in my life?” she said in a 2008 interview when her son was running for president .
– ‘ Strong , determined ’ –
McCain’ s mother often travelled with him on the campaign trail , a loving but unvarnished supporter who called things as she saw them .
“ I ’ m worried that whatever I would tell you would be true, ” she told Time magazine in 2000.
McCain, in one of his books , wrote that his mother was “ raised to be a strong , determined woman who thoroughly enjoyed life, and always tried to make the most of her opportunities . ”
“ She was encouraged to accept , graciously and with good humor, the responsibilities and sacrifices her choices have required of her . ”
But Mrs . McCain , who lives in an elegant Washington apartment , never suppressed her adventurous spirit .
Her father , a successful wildcat oilman, took Roberta and her twin sister Rowena on lengthy trips.
She eloped in Tijuana , Mexico at age 19, marrying her sweetheart Jack who rose to the rank of admiral .
Roberta kept her desire for travel , often renting a car with her sister and driving through Europe, or to India, for months on end .
She traveled to Hungary , Turkey , Australia , Thailand, Japan and beyond. She crossed the Jordanian desert in a bus in the dead of night.
And she has also displayed a stubborn streak. When she was in her nineties, she sought to rent a car in France , but was denied because of her age .
Undeterred, she bought a car and tooled around Europe, then shipped it to the US east coast and drove it to California , she told the New York Times.
Roberta McCain has often been asked how she coped with her son ’ s lengthy detention in Vietnam.
“ My husband chose his profession, and so did Johnny, ” she told Time of the ordeal .
“ People work on high bridges . When an accident happens , you can’ t bellyache . You chose the profession . ”