Kirk was assassinated Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. Remembered for his nonprofit organization, Turning Point USA, he advocated for conservative ideals on high school and college campuses across the country.

Tuesday would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday, said Blair County Republican Party Chairman Matt Zupon.

The organization wanted to host the memorial now to “show that Blair County remembered, even though it is out of the news,” he said.

Supporters, many wearing red and white shirts, stood in a line that stretched into the parking lot waiting to enter the church.

Attendees file into Grace Bible Church for a service honoring the memory of Charlie Kirk on Tuesday, which would have been the activist’s 32nd birthday. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow

Bonita Shreve, president of the Blair County Second Amendment Coalition, described Kirk as an “American hero” who didn’t have any issues debating people opposed to his political stance.

“He was a patriot, he loved this county, and it’s sad that he died for his freedom of speech,” she said. She then stated that killing people who express differing political beliefs has become normal in our country, which “isn’t America.”

Her friend, Ed Figart, added that Kirk was a “genius” at proving people wrong.

Further back in line stood Liberty University student Cadence Ellick, 19, who met Kirk at Penn State when he came to speak in 2024.

Wearing a red Make America Great Again hat and many pins on her jacket, she said she wrote an essay about how that event was nearly shut down. But her “teacher didn’t let me. She gave me a zero for it. Told me I had to rewrite it. I didn’t rewrite it.”

Hundreds of attendees wait to get into Grace Bible Church for a vigil honoring the memory of Charlie Kirk on Tuesday evening in Hollidaysburg. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

She said she’s a Kirk fan because of “everything he’s done and everything he stands for.”

Sean Woleslagle, 32, brought his children to the event to “know this is a free country and we should be able to express our opinions.”

“I wanted to always grow up and be around people who aren’t afraid to do that,” he said.

Kirk was “super intelligent, tactful and respectful,” according to Grace Bible Church guitar player Matt Markhan.

He was one of the guitar players for the memorial Tuesday night, but he said he also wanted to come to celebrate Kirk’s life.

People light candles during a vigil for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Tuesday at Grace Bible Church in Hollidaysburg. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow

During the vigil, several local political figures took the microphone to speak about Kirk including U.S. Rep. John Joyce, Councilman Dave Butterbaugh and state Rep. Scott Barger.

Joyce said he met Kirk and that he saw Kirk’s “radiance” while talking with others. He added that the late activist was able to “capture a generation, to bring people to a discussion point and to embrace who we are as American citizens.”

“I really believe in my heart that if Donald Trump didn’t win that election, we would probably be still having a vigil, but we would be praying to have Charlie Kirk free from jail,” Butterbaugh said.

Grace Bible Church Pastor Michael Stuart closed out the event by reciting from the speech “If I Were the Devil” written by radio broadcaster Paul Harvey.

Later, he said that America is a country of “moral relativism,” replacing truth for opinion.

Grace Bible Church Pastor Michael Stuart speaks during a vigil for Charlie Kirk on Tuesday at the church in Hollidaysburg. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

“The Bible addresses every single one of these issues that we’re facing as a country,” he said. “Charlie Kirk spoke boldly on each of these issues.”

Candles were distributed before the event began and those gathered ended the evening with a candlelight vigil.

After the event wrapped up, Altoona resident Erin Hamilton said she came to “recognize and honor” Kirk, stating that the information presented was “the truth.”

“It’s the truth in our world, and our culture is missing that,” she said.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814 946 7414.

Hundreds gathered to remember slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a vigil service on Tuesday at Grace Bible Church in Hollidaysburg.Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski