Tennessee Honors Charlie Kirk with Memorial Highway
Tennessee Today
(X/@Riley_Gaines_)
A section of Tennessee highway in Sumner County has been named the “Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway” to honor the late conservative activist. The designation lies along Vietnam Veterans Parkway from Davidson County to the Sumner County line, ending at Long Hollow Pike, and serves to honor Kirk while not officially renaming the highway.
The highway’s new namesake, Charlie Kirk, was a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA. Kirk was assassinated last year at Utah Valley University during a TPUSA event where he was taking student questions. The new designation intends to honor and remember his lasting impact on young conservatives.
Many prominent conservatives in the state have come out in support of the highway, including activist Riley Gaines and State Representative Johnny Garrett, among others.
Garrett took to Facebook to express his support for the change, stating, “The Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway will forever stand as a tribute to the man who awakened a renewed love of country and respect for the Constitution in young Americans. For years to come, Tennesseans who travel this highway will be reminded of Charlie’s legacy. We will continue carrying the torch for the principles he championed!”
Tennessee follows a growing trend among state leaders to honor Charlie Kirk’s legacy through highway designations. In the weeks directly following Kirk’s assassination, Florida became the first state to name a highway after the activist. Other states, including Tennessee and Kentucky, have since followed Florida’s lead.
Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway will serve as a reminder of the legacy that the late-activist left behind for many generations to come. As the nation continues to reckon with the public assassination of a conservative icon who always promoted strong American values and discussion with those that you disagree with, honorary namings like this play a role in moving forward while not forgetting those who came before.