Shining lights from candles and cellphones speckled the hillside near SKIP Playground in Stow on Sept. 21 when about 300 people held their heads down in prayer as an area pastor honored Charlie Kirk at a vigil for the slain conservative figure.

Moments later, the crowd, including 20-year-old Cody Smith, chanted Kirk's name and waved American flags, ending the memorial.

The vigil mixed church-like sermons and musical remembrances of Kirk. It featured prayers and speeches from local pastors and comments from teenagers and young adults who mourned Kirk. Many vigil-goers and speakers evoked the Bible and religion, while some described a battle of good and truth versus evil when talking about Kirk's death.

"He was a Christian," Smith said before the vigil began. "I didn't believe it when I h

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