A young bagpiper was seen performing outside the Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, near a memorial for Charlie Kirk, the organization’s founder who was tragically killed this week.
In tribute to Kirk, who was shot dead on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University, the young man played “America the Beautiful” under the sun, surrounded by a large gathering of supporters honoring conservative values with balloons, flowers, and messages of free speech.
The song’s lyrics were penned in the 19th century by Katharine Lee Bates, inspired by the view from Pikes Peak in Colorado, as noted by Classic FM.
Here are some of the lyrics from the song:
“Beautiful for heroes proved,
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May your gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!”
“Beautiful for patriot dream,
That sees beyond the years,
Your alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!”
Kirk’s shocking murder has left many in the country and beyond in mourning, with millions expressing their grief. The alleged shooter has been identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, according to reports.
Kirk’s wife, Erica, was seen arriving in Arizona on Thursday, holding a cross, as noted by various outlets.
“Vice Presidents accompanied Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk to Phoenix on Thursday. Photographs show Erica holding hands with the Second Lady, Usha Vance, during the journey.”
On Friday, the White House shared a video tribute to Kirk, referring to him as “a passionate patriot and a man of unwavering faith who devoted his life to America.”
President Donald Trump announced that he plans to posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
