Today we saw history. John Warner, who represented the Commonwealth for 30 years in the US Senate, walked down the aisle of the Senate Chamber escorting his replacement, former Governor Mark Warner (of no relation). Behind them was Virginia’s other Senator, Democrat Jim Webb.

The site made this reporter stop and take a second look. Generally it’s John Warner either being escorted down the aisle to be sworn in or he’s escorting his junior to be sworn in. But not this time.

Since Warner’ first election in 1978, Virginia has seen other senators come and go including Webb, Chuck Robb, Paul Tribble, Harry Bird, Jr., and George Allen. So too have the presidents come and gone, five in total from Jimmy Carter to George W. Bush.

During Warner’s years, we have fought many wars and he has had a hand in most of them. He served in the Navy during the tail end of World War II and in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. He was Secretary of the Navy during the end of the Vietnam War. While in the Senate, he drafted the resolution giving the first President Bush authority to go to war with Iraq. He was chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee during the War on Terror, the second war with Iraq, and our war in Afghanistan.

Through all of that, Warner has remained one of the strongest advocates and best friends of the US Military. He recently told us that his support of the military will be one of his proudest achievements. I would say it will also be his lasting legacy.

What will we miss most about John Warner? Perhaps it will be his own sense of history. He refused to call himself a constitutional scholar. But make no mistake… he was one of the Senate’s authorities on constitutional matters. He was also often was in the trenches trying to preserve the traditions of the Senate. For that he received praise from the middle and the left and criticism from the right.

His office was a museum of collectibles. Some were gifts; others were things he picked up during his travels… both official and for pleasure.

With his thick, white hair, stately appearance, commanding presence, and Southern charm John Warner embodied what many of us think a Senator should look like and how one should act. It’s lucky for Virginia and the nation that behind the looks stood a man of great integrity, personal strength, and unwavering patriotism. We are better for having elected John Warner to the US Senate give times. He served us well and will be missed.