By Stephen Sorace | Fox News
Top Republican leaders including House Speaker Johnson speak at faith-filled vigil for 31-year-old
Hundreds of mourners attended a memorial service and prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Sunday night to honor the political activist’s legacy after an assassin’s bullet took his life last week.
Lines of people, many of whom were wearing black or shirts and pins with the word “freedom,” were seen waiting to enter. Inside, young children were seen running up and down the aisles as their parents sang praise and worship songs at the faith-filled memorial, where top Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, delivered remarks.
“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.”
Johnson added that he believes Kirk “would never want us to be overcome by despair, he would want exactly the opposite.”
“And we’d do well to be reminded that the best way to honor his memory and to honor his unmatched legacy is to live as Charlie did,” the Louisiana Republican said.
Other members of the Trump administration who spoke at the service included White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Gabbard reflected on how even though the 31-year-old’s life was cut short, “his impact here and around the world is profound, and it is a beautiful thing to see it playing out now.”
“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.”
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