Dear Editor,
During the Medal of Freedom award ceremony held Oct. 14 in the Rose Garden at the White House, Erica Kirk delivered a tribute honoring her deceased husband’s legacy.
On his behalf, she accepted the Presidential Medal from Donald Trump, the highest honor a private citizen can receive. The following are excerpts from her speech: “Charlie always said the next generation will decide whether freedom endures … And he used to say freedom is the ability to do what is right without fear. That’s how he lived.
“Mr. President … you have given him the best birthday gift he could ever have … it’s such an honor in the recognition of a life lived for defending freedom… it was written across his chest in those final moments on one of his simple T-shirts that always carried a message – this one bearing a single word: freedom.
“Charlie wasn’t content to simply admire freedom.
He wanted to multiply freedom. He wanted young people to taste it, understand it, and defend it. He wanted them to see that liberty isn’t self-indulgence; it’s self-governance, under God … There is no limit to what he would have sacrificed to defend freedom for all … “To all watching, this is not a ceremony. This is a commissioning … I want you to embody this medal. I want you to free yourself from fear. I want you to stand courageously in the truth. Listen for the still, small voice of God. And remember that while. Freedom is inherited in this country; each of us must be intentional stewards of every single day … the torch is in our hands now.
“Charlie’s life was proof that freedom is not a theory, it’s a testimony. He showed us that liberty begins not in the halls of power, but in the heart of a man surrendered to God. To live free is the greatest gift, but to die free is the greatest victory.”
For nearly 32 years, Charlie Kirk actively lived life in an obedient companionship with Jesus. As promised in John 12:26, he has now found honor from God the Father in the promise of eternal glory.
Peter Wibell, Rutledge