Visalia remembers Charlie Kirk, his last appearance before he was killed in Utah

VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Organizers of the event that brought Charlie Kirk to Visalia earlier this month are now mourning the conservative commentator after he was shot dead in front of an audience on Wednesday. His speech in Visalia was the last one before his appearance in Utah.

Charlie Kirk spoke in front of a sold-out crowd inside Visalia First Assembly Church at the Tulare-County Resources for Life event on Sep. 2; on Sept. 10, he was shot and killed while speaking at another event at Utah Valley University in Orem, UT.

The Tulare-County Resources for Life event, Advancing the Mission, was the nonprofit’s annual fundraiser. The announcement that Kirk was to be the keynote speaker brought hundreds to Visalia First, creating a sell-out event for the first time.

The news that Kirk was shot just a week later shook attendees of the Tulare-County Resources for Life event to their core.

“There are just so many countless people that he had touched,” Rachael Saelzler said. 

Saelzler was one of many people of all ages invited to the Tulare-County Resources for Life offices for a group prayer and reflection to grieve Charlie Kirk.

“The fact that there’s a room full of people here says that his words touched far beyond just us,” Tulare-County Resources for Life Executive Director Ann Marie Paden said.

Paden says Kirk’s message will echo for generations, and the room full of young children, parents and grandparents reflects that.

One by one, each person in the room shared their thoughts and feelings upon hearing and seeing that Kirk had been shot.

“I was able to meet him,” said Lulu Taylor. “I sat next to him at dinner and we had a delightful conversation. He was an amazing person.”

Autumn Milburn shared what she wrote in class when she found out Kirk had been shot and killed.

“Setting politics aside, a woman lost her husband, a child lost their father, a mother lost her son,” Milburn read aloud. “Violence in America has spiraled out of control. The tragedy of Charlie Kirk’s passing has led me to think deeply about the Lord.”

Fellow attendees Ian Corrales and Jack McGuire were encouraged to share their feelings, too.

“I didn’t know what to think,” Corrales said. “I just never expected anything like that.”

McGuire says Kirk’s examples of standing by his word, regardless of the controversy, have inspired him to do the same. 

“The horrific killing of Charlie Kirk, really just put into my mind the fact that if you don’t live this life completely, you’re going to get lost.”

Paden says the meeting was mostly for the younger generation, as many around the United States are together in mourning.

“We are not alone because the country will mourn this loss. The entire country will mourn the loss of Charlie Kirk,” Paden said.  

12-year-old Ava Grace Paden cried as she shared the story of Charlie Kirk’s brief interaction with her that has been etched in her memory.

“He signed my hat, I was so overjoyed,” Ava Grace said. “I started crying, I was so happy.”

The event at Visalia First was Kirk’s last public appearance before he was shot in Utah. Paden says it was a blessing for Tulare-County Resources for Life.

“We’re just so blessed and honored that this was his last place.”