ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (WLS) — As a final farewell for conservative influencer Charlie Kirk drew tens of thousands for his memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, he was also being remembered in his Chicago-area hometown.
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In Kirk’s hometown of Arlington Heights, a crowd gathered at Lakewood Chapel to pay their respects to the Wheeling High School graduate.
“I think it’s important that we honor the memory of Charlie kirk,” Jonathon Luers said.
One of the last things he said to me is, ‘Please, sir, save Chicago…’ We’re going to save Chicago from horrible crime.
“He was a good person, he was a good man,” Jody Townsend said. “He was a righteous man.”
During the emotional memorial service, Kirk’s wife Erika had a touching tribute to her late husband.
“People who saw him said that he didn’t know what he was doing,” Erika Kirk said. “He knew exactly what he was doing He was going to change the world, and he did.”
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President Donald Trump also honored his friend, who was gunned down September 10 during an event at Utah Valley University.
“I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie kirk, and neither now will history,” Trump said.
Trump recalled Kirk’s upbringing in the northwest suburbs, while also signaling plans to deploy national guard to the Chicago.
“Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Charlie was filled with the patriotic spirit from his youth, and he was an all-American in everything he did,” Trump said. And one of the last things he said to me is, ‘Please, sir, save Chicago.’ We’re going to do that. We’re going to save Chicago from horrible crime.”
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The 31-year-old kirk founded the organization Turning Point USA at the age of 18, initially operating out of a garage in Lemont, Illinois.
Kirk rose to become one of the most prominent conservative voices in the country. Now, his wife Erika has been elected to become the new CEO of the organization.
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