An emotional Meghan McCain returned to “The View” on Monday, her first day back on the show since the death of her father, Sen. John McCain, in late August, with a plea for Americans to support each other despite their differences.

McCain thanked Americans for their kindness in the wake of her father’s death and became tearful sharing personal stories about how each of her co-hosts comforted her as her father’s health failed.

“I really want to thank all of America for being so kind to my family,” she said. “There were people in the country, all races, all ages, all creeds out there with American flags, waving, saluting, praying. He would have loved it, loved it.”

The late senator had a soft spot for Whoopi Goldberg, McCain said, referring to her co-host as “family.” McCain thanked Abby Huntsman for letting her get drunk, and then taking care of her when she drank too much, after she found out her father had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

She ended her monologue by urging Americans not to forget the ideals espoused by her father.

“There was a lot of talk about what died with him. I am here today to tell you, it didn’t. It is alive and well,” she said. “We can never surrender to what is happening in the country right now. I understand how divided and how scared a lot of people are … We do not surrender. I’m not surrendering, you don’t do it either.”

[Also read: Meghan McCain swings at Trump at her father's memorial: 'America was always great']