Former Naval aviator, Vietnam veteran, one-time military prisoner, unsuccessful 2000 presidential candidate, rumored 2008 presidential prospect, and current four-term U.S. senator, John McCain (R - Ariz.), will be delivering the keynote address at Freshman Convocation on the evening of Monday, Sept. 18, welcoming the class of 2010 to academia at Boston College.

The event is also open to all upperclassmen, faculty members, alumni, and other BC community members, who are invited to line the route the class of 2010 will follow as they process from Linden Lane, through the Quad, down the Higgins stairs and into Conte Forum before entering behind the class.

Also - for the first time this year - the speech will be broadcast live on BC cable, as well as offered in real time online for parents, alumni, and the greater public to view.

The speech will begin promptly at 7 p.m., and the freshmen procession will begin at 6:15 p.m. Freshman class members may also attend a barbecue prior to the procession at 5 p.m.

"This is the high-quality type of speaker that I had expected at Boston College," said James Rippey, A&S '10.

McCain's address will focus on leadership and is the first talk in this year's "Conversations in the First Year" program. Over the summer, freshmen received copies of the book Lives of Moral Leadership by Robert Coles. The senator's address is expected to focus on many of the themes discussed in the work.

"Through his experience in Vietnam, his work in Congress, and his commitment to solving the issues of immigration in this country, Senator McCain has much to share with the student body and is a great example of moral leadership," said Rev. Joseph Marchese, director of First Year Experience (FYE) - which organizes the annual event and secured McCain to speak - in an e-mail.

"To have such a politically active figure coming to speak at BC is very impressive for the University. It allows students to see all the opportunities and connections Boston College has to offer in government and daily life," said Kyle Rickli, CSOM '10.

Biz Bracher, FYE assistant director said that the senator's address, as well as the entire convocation ceremony, introduces students to academic life at the University.

"It puts the focus on the beginning of [the class of 2010's] academic journey at Boston College ­- because, let's face it, that's why we're all here. That is the most important part of their life at BC," she said.

Preceding convocation, freshmen will gather outside their residence halls before being accompanied by their resident assistants, certain orientation leaders, and some faculty members to a barbecue on the Dustbowl just for the class. From there, they will be directed to Linden Lane.

Once assembled, and upon receiving the charge, "Go set the world aflame" (which is what St. Ignatius Loyola told Francis Xavier before Xavier's journey to the Far East) from members of the Jesuit community, the class will process to Lower Campus and Conte Forum for McCain's address.

Joining the class of 2010 will be representatives from the Class of 1956 who are celebrating their 50-year reunion this year.

These "golden Eagles" will process into Conte Forum with the freshmen. Behind them will be members of the class of 1981, which is celebrating its 25-year reunion this year.

The procession preceding McCain's address is especially intended to be a "bookend" experience. After Sept. 18, the only other time the class of 2010 will ever again be assembled in full will be before graduation, when they will again be called to Linden Lane, again receive St. Ignatius' immortalized charge, and again process to Lower Campus - this time for commencement.

It is the third year of the freshman convocation tradition. Last year Senator Barack Obama (D - Ill.) delivered the address. In 2004, author Tracy Kidder and Dr. Paul Farmer spoke.