Friday marked the 40th anniversary of Sen. John McCain's plane being shot down over Vietnam. He chose to spend the anniversary in Rock Rapids at Alpha Omega Publishing, a company that sells christian education curriculum. Because of his location the senator chose to focus more on education than his anniversary.

Despite a short introduction by fellow prisoner of war Col. Bud Day, Sen. McCain largely sidestepped his experience in vietnam, speaking instead about his ideas for fixing K-12 education.

"I'm for spending more," McCain said. "I'm sure you're for spending more money but that money has to be spent wisely since it happens to be your tax dollars."

McCain says he supports a voucher program, which would give parents money for education, allowing them to choose whether to spend it on publicly or privately. A polarizing idea in rural Iowa.

"He talked a lot about that people should have choice of schools, that's good, I think, if you're in large metropolitan areas," said Doug Smit, of Ireton. "You know in rural communities I think it's a detriment myself."

McCain also pledged support for the "No Child Left Behind" act.

"I don't think we ought to discard the whole thing," McCain said. "I think we ought to fix those areas where there's problems and build on the success of the 'No Child Left Behind' itself."

Although he could have focused on topics like his stance against torture on the day of such his own war anniversary, McCain says focusing on education was an simple decision, like it or not.

"Education is frankly a longer term and more important issue to people in Iowa and across the country."

"He has a point to get across and I think he's getting it across," said Allison Dreke of Rock Rapids. "And I think he's going to stick true to what he says."