The Spectator Hosts Vigil Honoring Charlie Kirk
The Spectator Hosts Vigil Honoring Charlie Kirk
The Spectator, joined by over 100 community members, commemorated the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk.
(The memorial constructed by The Spectator, The Generals Redoubt and members of the W&L and Lexington community | SOURCE: The Spectator)
In an effort to recognize Charlie Kirk’s profound impact, the W&L Spectator hosted a vigil commemorating his life and legacy at the W&L Colonnade on September 17, 2025. Over 100 people attended the event, including students, alumni and members of the Lexington and Rockbridge community.
(Associate Editor Dominic Vogelbacher, ‘27, welcomes attendees to the event. | SOURCE: The Spectator)
Associate Editor Dominic Vogelbacher, ‘27, welcomed everyone to the event, emphasizing its purpose: to honor Charlie Kirk, not to advance any political agendas. Following Vogelbacher’s introduction, Father Jay Biber of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church led the audience in an opening prayer.
(Associate Editor Dominic Vogelbacher, ‘27, addresses the crowd. | SOURCE: The Spectator)
Following Biber’s prayer, staff members of The Spectator gave prepared remarks about Charlie Kirk. Associate Editor Nathan Gilbert, ‘27, spoke on behalf of Editor-in-Chief Alex Kagan, ‘27, discussing the importance of fighting for freedom of speech in an era of political violence.
Gilbert told the crowd, “that Charlie is proud now, peering down and seeing everyone here willing to make their voices heard, to take a stand and end the scourge of political violence.” “We must repudiate political violence in all forms, and do so by speaking firmly but respectfully, being careful not to demonize those with whom we disagree,” he continued.
Gilbert then talked about his own experience meeting Charlie Kirk in Chicago, and how Kirk valued civil discourse and the ability to disagree respectfully. He highlighted Kirk’s Christian faith, and that in the wake of his death, conservatives should honor Kirk’s legacy by not seeking revenge against their political opponents.
(Lexington and Rockbridge community members linger before the event. | SOURCE: The Spectator)
Associate Editor Charles Boardman, ‘28, then commended the crowd for attending, arguing that their unity in the face of tragedy repudiated the shooting’s anti-American message. He emphasized America’s foundational promise that all citizens could express their different opinions and still live together peacefully. Charlie Kirk had his life cut short by someone who broke that promise, he argued.
Afterward, Managing Editor Akash Abraham, ‘28, delivered his speech, focusing on the need to continue having difficult conversations, a philosophy embodied by Charlie Kirk. Abraham stressed the importance of unity, the need to prevent politics from defining people, and the pursuit of truly embodying the principle of “one Nation under God.”
Following the prepared remarks, there was an open floor for audience members. Many audience members stood up to make their voices heard, including current students, alumni and locals. Many audience speakers discussed the role Charlie Kirk played in their lives, while others emphasized the importance of the Christian values that Kirk zealously advocated.
Associate Editor Dominic Vogelbacher ‘27 was the final speaker. He attested to the tremendous impact that Charlie Kirk had on him throughout his childhood. Vogelbacher argued that Charlie “showed us family is worth striving for, truth is worth fighting for and faith is worth dying for.”
(Attendees lay candles while commemorating Kirk’s legacy. | SOURCE: The Spectator)
To conclude the event, Biber conducted the closing benediction, leading the audience members to lay candles at the memorial constructed by The Spectator, with assistance from several community members and organizations.
The event was conducted peacefully, without any of the acrimony experienced online following Kirk’s assassination. The event did receive criticism from anonymous students on the social media site Fizz, including one student who anonymously posted that “honoring a man who championed misogynistic, homophobic, racist, anti health care pro gun violence values is about as close minded and stupid as it can get.”
Despite the online controversy, no protestors or any opposition to the event materialized in person, in line with previous criticisms of conservative events on W&L’s campus.
The event ended with Charlie Kirk’s portrait, flowers, and dozens of candles staying overnight on the historic W&L Colonnade.