By Paul Garrod
Staff Writer
news4garrod@gmail.com
PAW PAW – Tuesday, Oct. 14, was designated by Congress as the National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk, recognizing his lasting contributions to civic education and public service. To mark what would have been his 32nd birthday, events were held across the country, with a local event held at Maple Lake Amphitheatre, Paw Paw, organized by Robyn Peake.
Peake told the more than 200 people who gathered for the one-hour event that it served as “a community response to what we saw on Sept. 10. We have an amazing crowd here.”
Kirk, a conservative political influencer and entrepreneur, said what he wanted to be remembered for mostly was his faith. He co-founded the conservative student organization Turning Point USA in 2012 and served as its executive director until his public assassination on Sept. 10, in Orem, Utah, at the Utah Valley University campus, in front of students and his family.
“We know that this is his first birthday in the arms of Jesus, but for his wife, Erika……,” said Peake, who then offered a moment of silence for Kirk.
“It’s been a huge range of emotions that I think all of us felt,” said Peake about Kirk’s assassination. “I think it’s very important for the community to come together when something shocks us and hits us so hard.”
“Some say that Charlie was a racist. That was a flat out lie,” said one speaker.
Another individual who spoke offered up a prayer for Erika Kirk and the children.
Yet another speaker said, “Charlie was truly an inspiration for people like me.”
Another person who spoke read a poem that she had written.
“We want Charlie’s work to continue. We want his messages of faith and hope to reverberate through the nation,” said Peake.
A condolence book was located at the amphitheatre for those who attended to sign. It was scheduled to be delivered to Erika.
