Amid unspeakable grief, a memorial honouring Charlie Kirk took place at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC, on Sunday night (local time). Hundreds gathered at the centre with tissues passed row by row for mourners. People were seen wearing shirts with the word “freedom.” Several waited in line for the event to get started, and children stood along with their parents as they sang praise and worship songs. Multiple Republican leaders and friends of Charlie Kirk mourned and spoke during the memorial service, including Speaker Mike Johnson, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
‘Dark shadow over country’
Speaker Mike Johnson said that it had been “a very, very difficult week in America.””It’s been a mixture of unspeakable sadness and grief and anger and even fear,” Johnson said. “It’s as if a dark shadow was cast over our country.”He added that Kirk “would never want us to be overcome by despair, he would want exactly the opposite.”He added, “And we’d do well to be reminded that the best way to honour his memory and to honour his unmatched legacy is to live as Charlie did.”
‘Our time will come sooner or later.’
Director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also addressed the memorial service, remembering how Kirk’s life was cut short. “Ultimately, for every one of us, the time that we have in this world is temporary,” said Gabbard. “Our time will come sooner or later.””And so the critical question that we have for ourselves is whatever time we have, what are we doing with it? How are we making the most of every day that we have?” she added. She praised Kirk for “carrying out his mission, motivated by his faith in Jesus Christ and his unwavering dedication to defending our God-given freedoms.””Because of his commitment and dedication, his impact here and around the world is profound, and it is a beautiful thing to see it playing out now,” she added.
Karoline Leavitt’s emotional tribute
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt gave an emotional tribute to Kirk, who was assassinated by suspect Tyler Robinson at Utah University last week. “It’s going to take all of us in this room and all of us across the country, to take up Charlie’s torch,” she said.“He encouraged young people to get married and to have children. It is our most important mission on this earth,” she added.
