By Ray Cardello for September 21, 2025, Season 32 / Post 43

I am prepared to watch the Charlie Kirk memorial service today with a collection of mixed emotions flooding my mind. It is fitting that the service will be held in a large outdoor venue, although there is no structure big enough to accommodate all of us who would like to be with Charlie and his family today. Seeing 80,000 people gathered under the Arizona sun, with God and Charlie standing together in heaven above watching from their skybox, will be symbolic of the courage Charlie had in life and the power he will yield in death. It will be a signal to all of those cowards on the side of Evil who would have sat on that roof and taken the fatal shot that they did not kill Charlie Kirk. Instead, they unleashed his boundless spirit, and his work will be carried on by a new legion of Charlie Kirks, who have found their voices and the courage to use them to spread the word of our Lord and blessings for all of us who believe we are free to live our lives in peace.

I will watch with sorrow for the broken heart of his bride, Erika, and his two beautiful children, who have had their husband and father ripped from their lives because he had the fortitude to speak the word of Christ shamelessly, and to openly debate his detractors with the hope he might convince them of a better life on the side of Good. I will watch with hope that the upswell of support for Charlie’s mission is not just a fleeting moment, but a giant ripple that will continue to grow as it spreads around the globe. If our hope is fulfilled, we can then understand why God chose to call Charlie home to Him so soon, for it was the right time to uncork the power of Charlie’s legacy. Though Charlie accomplished much in his short time on earth, he will achieve far more as he stands next to his Savior above, watching and guiding his flock.

Unfortunately, I will watch in fear, for we have learned in this last year that our leaders and mentors are no longer safe in the public forum. I will watch, hoping to hear only Amen and Hallelujah ring out from the crowd, and not the sound of gunfire. We will gather this afternoon in Arizona and in front of our television screens to bid farewell to a courageous man, who had a dream to spread the word of Good among the Evil. Charlie was standing with our Lord before the bullet that ravaged his body hit the floor, so today we will say goodbye to his earthly remains and pledge to him, and to God, that we will never tire of doing the work he has charged us with doing in his name.

Rest in peace, Charlie. Your work is done here on earth, and now it is our time to follow in your footsteps, as you taught and prepared us to do.