‘Not a memory, but a mission’

Local conservatives celebrate Kirk’s legacy in wake of his death

More than 150 people gathered in front of the Historic Courthouse in downtown
Monroe Sunday afternoon to celebrate the legacy of slain conservative activist Charlie
Kirk and urge one another to continue his mission. Photo credit: Deborah Stewart | For The Walton Tribune

Walton County residents came out in droves Sunday evening to celebrate the life and mourn the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk died on Sept. 10, 2025 after being shot in the throat during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. He was 31 and left behind his wife, Erika, as well as a 3-year-old daughter and a 10 month-old son.

Dubbed “Carrying Freedom Forward,” the event drew more than 150 people to hear numerous speakers extol Kirk’s impact on American culture and exhort everyone to work to continue Kirk’s work in the days ahead.

“I can’t thank everyone enough for being here,” MaryKate Couey, organizer for the event, said. “Charlie may be gone, so we just have to be louder. Silence is not an option.”

Couey said she felt compelled to put together Sunday’s event not just to honor Kirk’s legacy and mourn collectively with others throughout Walton County, but to push others to step out and do their part to continue Kirk’s work and magnify his impact on the country.

“Charlie was a man who never backed down,” she said. “Let Charlie’s legacy not be a memory, but a mission. You just need the courage to start.”

It was a theme that was picked up and emphasized by every speaker at the event, including county commissioner Jeremy Adams, who led the event off with a prayer, to area office-seekers Houston Gaines and Marc McMain. McMain is the former chair of the Walton County Republican Party and is now running for the state Senate seat currently held by Sen. Bill Cowsert, who declared his candidacy for the attorney general’s office earlier this year. McMain said it was vital for everyone at the event to take Kirk’s death as a rallying cry to get involved in some way.

“If we go home after this event and do nothing else, this event is a failure,” McMain said. “In this moment of clarity, we have to decide what to do next. “There are ways to get involved,” McMain
continued. “It’s hard to see it, but good will come of this if we all resolve to get involved. There is going to be God things coming out of Charlie Kirk’s death.”

Gaines is running for the U.S. House seat held by Rep. Mike Collins. Collins declared his intent to run for the U.S. Senate next year. “Charlie was someone who did things the right way,” Gaines said. “Let’s keep up Charlie’s work. What is happening in his name, what God is doing, is truly remarkable.”

Gaines said it’s a promising sign for a transformative wave coming to America.

“There needs to be a generational change,” Gaines said.

Taylor Hawkins, the second vice chair for the Walton County Republican Party, also spoke to the crowd
Sunday.

“Charlie Kirk was one of the brightest minds in the conservative movement,” Hawkins said. “He spoke boldly. But I urge us all, as consider Charlie’s legacy, to take his faith seriously. Mere moments before his death, he was speaking about his faith. He used politics as an on-ramp to ministry.”

Hawkins said Kirk’s political approach worked because of his emphasis on his Christianity.

“Yes, Charlie was a political person,”Hawkins said. “But he was political as Danielwas a political person, as Mordecai and Esther were political people. Let’s continue that legacy of courage and faith.”

This is the second memorial in honor of Kirk in as many weeks. The Harvest Church in Monroe held a prayer vigil and memorial service for on the evening of Friday, Sept. 19, in front of the Walton County
Historic Courthouse.

A crowd turned out to offer prayers, sing religious songs and pay tribute to Turning Point CEO Carlie Kirk who was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025 by a gunman at a Utah Valley University. Photo credit: Deborath Stewart | Special to the Tribune