Hundreds of mourners attended a memorial service and prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Sunday night to honor the political activist’s legacy after an assassin’s bullet took his life last week.

Lines of people, many of whom were wearing black or shirts and pins with the word “freedom,” were seen waiting to enter. Inside, young children were seen running up and down the aisles as their parents sang praise and worship songs at the faith-filled memorial, where top Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, delivered remarks.

“It’s been a mixture of unspeakable sadness and grief and anger and even fear,” Johnson said. “It’s as if a dark shadow was cast over our country.”

Johnson added that he believes Kirk “would never want us to be overcome by despair, he would want exactly the opposite.”

Leavitt recalled Kirk’s sincerity and encouragement and echoed his belief that the greatest legacy is “family.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a memorial and prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Washington.  (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

“He encouraged young people to get married and to have children. It is our most important mission on this earth,” she said.

Kennedy said he and Kirk became “spiritual brothers” after meeting during a podcast interview in 2021 before sharing a personal anecdote about dealing with grief and loss in his family.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a memorial and prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

“When my brother David died, I had a conversation with my mother who had been through more than her share of loss and tragedy,” Kennedy said. “And I said, I asked her … does the hole they leave in you when they die, does it ever get any smaller?”

“And she said, no, it never gets any smaller. But our job is to build ourselves bigger around the hole,” he added.