Standing Tall at the Charlie Kirk Memorial
Bravery, Missteps, and the Rising Voice of the Next Generation
This past Sunday, I stood shoulder-to-shoulder with men and women who were not afraid to show up.
Attending the Charlie Kirk memorial was not a risk-free act; everyone there knew that in today’s climate, anything could happen, be it a protest, a bomb threat, or even another coward with a gun.
But people came anyway…
And that matters.
It was courage on display.
Let’s not sugarcoat it, showing up on Sunday was a line in the sand.
Too many Americans have been conditioned to bow their heads, keep their mouths shut, and stay home when courage is required. That’s what the enemy wants, as Evil thrives on silence and fear;
When people refuse to hide, when they walk into a memorial knowing the risks and still stand tall, that’s how you push back against darkness. The cowards who seek to intimidate us will never understand that spirit, because they’ve already surrendered it.
And if there’s one lesson to walk away with, it’s accepting that we can’t afford half-measures anymore.
The time for safe, polished speeches and patting ourselves on the back is over.
Charlie Kirk wasn’t assassinated for being lukewarm; he was targeted because he had the guts to speak truth without apology. That’s what we owe his memory, not self-promotion, fear, or hesitation.
But a relentless commitment to community, truth, and the rising generation who are already proving they’ll carry this fight further than we ever imagined.
These weren’t just attendees but believers and patriots who valued remembrance over comfort. They knew Charlie stood for truth, and the least we could do was stand for him, even in uncertainty.
Still, I did walk away with some frustration.
Too many speakers spent their time on themselves, their journeys, their projects, their resumes, and their moment in the spotlight.
This day wasn’t about them; it was about Charlie and his message, his sacrifice, his impact, and in moments like these, the spotlight should remain on the man we came to honor.
Yet the day wasn’t lost.
What gave me hope were the voices of the young.
Two teenagers stood before hundreds and spoke about the Turning Point chapters they founded in their schools, against pushback from adults in the community. While grown men debate online, these kids are already leading, unashamed and unafraid in person, face-to-face against their detractors.
That’s legacy, and the continuation of what Charlie poured his life into.
I left with a heavy heart, but also with clarity.
The discussions with my wife and children were fantastic. I believe I saw them better, and they also understand me a little more. At first, I was hesitant to bring them, as I’d never want to put my family in harm’s way, so I told them what I was doing and allowed them to make their choice, and they all chose to join me.
I expected nothing less, yet I was still impressed and proud to see my family show up and support something important to me, accepting whatever was to come our way.
The lighting of the candles and the unity of the community are something I will never forget, and my wife and children were there to experience it all, firsthand. We showed, again, that we are in this together and that when evil shows itself, we do not hide.
Evil may take a life, but it cannot kill a message, and as long as people show up and the next generation refuses to sit down, Charlie’s voice will not be silenced.
And neither will ours.
Stand Up, Show Up, and Double-Down on your commitment to what is good and faithful.
- Zac Small