McCain becomes National Hero of Georgia

US Senator John McCain has gained recognition in Georgia. President Mikhail Saakashvili has awarded him with the state's highest decoration, the Order of National Hero of Georgia.

Saakashvili said it was for McCain's strong support of Tbilisi during the military conflict with South Ossetia in August 2008.

The former US Presidential Candidate was also presented with a gun. As Saakashvili stated, "it was a gun sold by one Russian General to a Georgian businessman during the military conflict in the Caucasus in August 2008."

According to Saakashvili, the gun belonged to a US pilot taken prisoner in the Vietnam War.

"John McCain demonstrated heroism for America and for Georgia," Saakashvili proudly said at a ceremony at the Black Sea resort of Batumi.

McCain repeatedly backed Tbilisi during 2008 conflict, when Georgia attacked South Ossetia, stating at one point that now "we are all Georgians."