Charlie kirk to be Honored at Memorial Service Sunday, Wife Erika to Speak
PHOENIX, AZ – A memorial service for charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, will be held Sunday in arizona, organizers announced Saturday. The service comes just days after Kirk was fatally shot on September 10th, hours after delivering what is now being remembered as a profoundly reflective final interview.
Kirk, 35, had been speaking at the Restaurantology Summit in Salt Lake City, appearing alongside Andrew K. Smith, managing partner of Savory Fund. the conversation, initially intended to focus on entrepreneurship and the growth of Turning Point USA, evolved into a personal discussion of Kirk’s values and life priorities.
“He was full of life, he was optimistic,” Smith recalled in a recent interview. “He walked off stage and said, ’How did I do?’ He wanted to know he did a good job. And I said,’Charlie,that was great.’ Within the hour, he was gone.We were in shock.”
During the interview, Kirk detailed Turning Point USA’s expansion into a nationwide movement employing over 1,000 people and generating more than $140 million in combined revenue. He emphasized his role in providing vision and inspiration. “I love building teams,” he said.”I know my skill set, managing day-to-day is not one of them. But vision, putting forward exactly how we’re going to get there, and being that life force, that’s what I do.”
Kirk also spoke openly about the importance of faith and virtue, stating that a free society cannot endure without them.He prioritized “God, wife, kids, and network,” and expressed a desire to be remembered for courage. “Courage is the ultimate virtue,” Kirk said. “Without it, there are no other virtues.”
Smith described their final exchange,were he asked Kirk for a guiding quote,as notably poignant. “It will blow your mind,” Smith said. “You really felt the spirit he carried as a human,the optimism. That conversation will be something I remember for the rest of my life.”
Kirk left the stage at 11:23 a.m. and was shot less than an hour later.
Details regarding the location and time of Sunday’s memorial service will be released by Turning Point USA. Erika Kirk is scheduled to speak at the event.
