The Republic | azcentral.com

Sen. John McCain's remarks from the Senate floor Tuesday, after Sen. Jeff Flake announced he will not run for reelection following his current term.

It’s very hard for me to add to the eloquence of my dear friend from Arizona. But I do want to say that it has been one of the great honors of my life to serve with a man of integrity, honor, decency and commitment to not only Arizona but to the United States of America.

I have seen Jeff Flake stand up for what he believes in, knowing full well there would be a political price to pay.

I have seen him stand up for his family. I have seen him stand up for his forebearers, who are the early settlers of Arizona. In fact, there’s a place called Snowflake, Arizona, and obviously the Flake part comes from his direct predecessor.

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It is the Flake family and families like them that came and worked and slaved and made families and made Arizona what it is. And it has never had a more deserving son that in Jeff Flake, and his beautiful wife Cheryl and children.

So I would just like to say, Jeff, I’ve known you now for a number of years. I know you have served Arizona and the country. And there’s one thing that I’m absolutely sure of – that you will continue that service which is part of your family, it’s part of your view of America, it’s part of your willingness and desire to serve Arizona. And one of the great privileges of my life has been to have the opportunity to know you and serve with you.

So as we look, all of us at some point, at the time that we’ve spent here — whether it be short or whether it be long — we look back on what we could have done, what we should have done, what we might have done, and the mistakes we made and things we’re proud of.

When Flake’s service to the Senate is reviewed it will be one of honor, of brilliance, of patriotism, of love of country. And I thank you. God bless you and your family.

TALKING POLITICS: Listen to our Arizona politics podcast, The Gaggle, on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Stitcher or Google Play.