Courage and Community: Celina Holds Candlelight Vigil for Charlie Kirk

On Sunday evening, September 14, 2025, the downtown square in Celina, Texas was bathed in candlelight and prayer as residents gathered to remember Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA. Kirk, a prominent speaker on college campuses and outspoken Christian, was assassinated in Utah just four days earlier. In a video message recorded before his death, he said that if he were remembered for anything, he hoped it would be courage and faith. Those two themes guided Celina’s response.

A grassroots gathering

The vigil was not a city‑sponsored event. According to community organizers, neighbors, friends and families came together to plan the gathering at the square, which began at 6 p.m. They invited everyone to wear orange—a nod to the Celina Bobcats—and asked attendees to avoid blocking streets so the square remained open. The organizers emphasized that there would be a few speakers, but the evening was meant to be a family‑oriented time of love and remembrance. Residents were encouraged to share the invitation with church groups, sports teams and homeowners associations so that the entire community could participate.

Honouring Charlie Kirk’s legacy

Those attending the vigil knew Kirk primarily as a dynamic Christian voice. He founded Turning Point USA while still a teenager and spent the next decade speaking on university campuses about faith, free speech and personal responsibility. At the Celina gathering, Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner reminded the crowd that Kirk was loved “not only for what he opposed, but for what he stood for”—his belief in limited government, free speech and personal responsibility. Skinner told attendees that, although they were united in grief, they were also united in gratitude for Kirk’s life. He noted that Kirk once said he wanted to be remembered for courage and for his faith, a remark that drew nods and “amens” from the crowd. Skinner thanked the Celina Police Department and his deputies for keeping the event safe and called on the community to continue showing kindness, compassion and unity.

Former Dallas Cowboy and legendary Hall of Fame member Randy White took to the stage to deliver some heartfelt comments about Charlie and how he was able to reach out to the younger generation and how important and everlasting that impact will be.

Celina Mayor Ryan Tubbs was joined on stage by city council members Brandon Grumbles, Philip Ferguson and Wendie Wigginton, along with state Representative Matt Shaheen. Tubbs reminded attendees that Kirk’s faith guided his thought and politics. He called Kirk an intelligent debater, organizer and, most importantly, a fellow believer in Christ. Tubbs prayed for protection and guidance over the nation’s families, schools and God‑given rights, then quoted Kirk’s own declaration of hope: “Jesus defeated death so that you can live.” Shaheen later posted a photo from the event with the caption “Bold witnesses for Jesus Christ” and encouraged followers to carry Kirk’s commitment to truth and faith forward.

An outpouring of support

As the sun set, hundreds of Celina residents and visitors filled the square with candles, hymns and prayers. Many held signs thanking Kirk for his advocacy, while others clutched Bibles or joined hands in circles of prayer. Children sat on their parents’ shoulders to see the speakers; teenagers hugged one another and cried; older couples quietly sang “Goodness of God.” The mood was solemn yet hopeful. Sheriff Skinner’s office later posted that he was grateful “for every person who attended, every prayer lifted, and every memory shared,” noting that the community stood strong together to honor Charlie’s life and legacy.

The vigil’s grassroots nature underscored the impact Kirk had on everyday people. Organizers reminded everyone that the gathering was a time to show love and respect and that Celina’s Bobcat heart would remain strong. By the end of the night, many attendees left inspired to live out the same courage and faith that Kirk exemplified. In a small Texas town, under a late‑summer sky, the community responded to tragedy with unity, worship and hope—reflecting exactly how Charlie Kirk said he wanted to be remembered.