Here’s how to honor Sen. Lindsey Graham’s unmatched patriotic legacy

Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sudden passing immediately brought well-deserved, fulsome tributes from across the political spectrum, but actions can speak louder than words — and his colleagues in Washington and his beloved South Carolina have clear opportunities to honor his legacy by continuing it.

Specifically, the House and Senate can pass the additional, “secondary” sanctions on Vladimir Putin’s Russian war machine that Graham pushed in recent months, and the Palmetto State can choose a like-minded patriot to succeed him in the US Senate; Rep. Joe Wilson is the obvious pick.

Graham’s service to his country began in his teens: He joined the ROTC in college and joined the Air Force JAG Corps on graduation from the University of South Carolina School of Law — and, on retirement from active duty moved to the Air National Guard, later deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan even as he served in Congress.

His dogged determination to preserve the rule of law even in wartime never wavered, occasionally putting him in conflict with other Republican hawks but also deepening his long friendship with the late Sen. John McCain.

On other fronts, he led the party, notably in standing up righteously, furiously, to Democrats’ underhanded efforts to torpedo the Supreme Court confirmation of now-Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

And led with humor, as appropriate; consider his unmatched 2015 dig that Sen. Bernie Sanders “went to the Soviet Union on his honeymoon and I don’t think he ever came back.”

Graham’s clear-eyed patriotism made him a firm supporter of the US military, a great friend of America’s strong allies such as Israel, and a relentless foe of the “Death to America” rulers of Iran as well as Russian despot Vladimir Putin.

He stood up for Ukraine when President Barack Obama ignored Putin’s 2014 invasion and forever after, including when Putin launched his fresh attempt to conquer Kyiv as President Joe Biden dithered in 2022.

And he’s pushed President Trump to take a tougher stand — a direction Trump has been taking of late, as Ukraine’s forces push Moscow’s onto the ropes.

That makes this the obvious moment for strong, bipartisan votes in the House and Senate to pass Graham’s sanctions bill so Trump can sign it into law and let Vlad know that Lindsey’s beating him from the grave.

In South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster and his fellow Republicans can honor Graham by choosing a Senate successor who’ll carry on his battles. Joe Wilson, another solid GOP vote and friend of Ukraine, Israel and other frontline democracies, seems the obvious choice (though he’s declared he’d rather continue serving in the House).

No one can replace Lindsey Graham, but all Americans of good will should be inspired to keep up his lifelong fights for freedom, decency and justice.