{"id":107611,"date":"2025-09-23T08:02:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T12:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?p=107611"},"modified":"2025-09-24T07:19:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T11:19:00","slug":"hundreds-gather-at-hickories-park-for-charlie-kirk-vigil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2025\/09\/23\/hundreds-gather-at-hickories-park-for-charlie-kirk-vigil\/","title":{"rendered":"Hundreds gather at Hickories Park for Charlie Kirk Vigil"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Wendy Post —<\/p>\n

Not unlike towns all around the nation and world, the Town of Owego was host to a vigil on Sunday evening, Sept. 14, 2025, for Charlie Kirk, the American right-wing political activist who co-founded the conservative organization Turning Point USA in 2012, and was serving as its executive director. On Sept. 10, 2025, Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at the Utah Valley University campus.<\/p>\n

Kirk\u2019s death gained international attention and led to the condemnation of political violence by prominent domestic and international figures, with President Donald Trump announcing that Kirk would posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and flags were lowered to half-staff.<\/p>\n

\"Hundreds<\/a>

On Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, a vigil for Charlie Kirk took place at Hickories Park in Owego, N.Y., near the park\u2019s bandshell. (Photo by Wendy Post)
Kirk2 – Guests light candles at a vigil held on Sept. 14, 2025 at Hickories Park in Owego, N.Y., for Charlie Kirk. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n

Vigils were held not only throughout the country but also internationally, with many expressing fears about free speech based on the acts committed against Kirk, whose organization was known for being controversial.<\/p>\n

Social media soon filled with arguments and hateful statements following Kirk\u2019s death, widening the divisive gap being experienced in the country politically.<\/p>\n

\"Hundreds<\/a>

Hundreds gathered at Hickories Park in Owego, N.Y., on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, for a vigil for Charlie Kirk, some carrying flags. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n

But one young girl, Sarah Mistretta, of Owego, felt horrible about what she saw happening with the divisiveness and decided to do something, so she put out a social media post inviting people to a peaceful gathering at Hickories Park in Owego on Sunday evening and called for unity.<\/p>\n

\"Hundreds<\/a>

Sarah Mistretta, of Owego, N.Y., who launched the idea for Sunday\u2019s vigil addresses the guests who attended the Hickories Park event. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n

In her initial post, Mistretta wrote, \u201cAll are welcome to peacefully join us this Sunday afternoon as we gather to honor the memory of Charlie Kirk and pay our respects to his wife, children, family, and loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added, \u201cThis is very casual, and citizen-run.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coordinating with the Town of Owego Supervisor, Don Castellucci Jr., the event did just that, with hundreds gathering – some with flags, others with their own candles – to join in the event that welcomed several local pastors, several hymns, including “Amazing Grace,” sung by Dianne Holton of Rome, Pa., and closing and opening prayers.<\/p>\n

\"Hundreds<\/a>

Young guests light candles at a vigil held on Sept. 14, 2025 in Owego, N.Y., for Charlie Kirk. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n

Of the guests invited to say a few words, Rose DeAngelis, of Apalachin, N.Y., spoke to the guests, reminding them, \u201cWhen a tyrant dies, his role is over; when a martyr dies, his role begins,\u201d in reference to the work that Kirk did in his own mission and how this work will carry on, as evidenced by the number of guests in attendance at the Owego vigil, both young and old.<\/p>\n

Don Castellucci, when addressing guests, echoed these sentiments, stating, \u201cDo not let this be the end, but the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Hundreds<\/a>

Tioga County\u2019s Legislative Chair, Martha Sauerbrey, was invited to say a few words at Sunday\u2019s vigil held for Charlie Kirk at Hickories Park in Owego, N.Y. On the left is Owego Town Supervisor Don Castellucci Jr.; Town Councilman Craig Yochum, and Dean Morgan are pictured on the right. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n

The vigil concluded in prayer and was a peaceful gathering, albeit a large police presence around the perimeter due to the current political climate in the county, the nation, and the world.<\/p>\n

(Note from the Editor: We would like to inform our readership that this vigil is one of several that The Owego Pennysaver has provided coverage for. Just a reminder that we serve to report the news, and if you have a story idea or are looking for coverage for an event, email opennysaver@owegopennysaver.com<\/a> and your request will be forwarded to the news desk.)<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

\"Hundreds<\/a>

Dianne Holton, from Rome, Pa., leads the crowd in a rendition of “Amazing Grace” during the Sept. 14, 2025 vigil held for Charlie Kirk at Hickories Park in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Wendy Post — Not unlike towns all around the nation and world, the Town of Owego was host to a vigil on Sunday evening,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":107615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-107611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nHundreds gather at Hickories Park for Charlie Kirk Vigil - Owego Pennysaver Press<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2025\/09\/23\/hundreds-gather-at-hickories-park-for-charlie-kirk-vigil\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hundreds gather at Hickories Park for Charlie Kirk Vigil - Owego Pennysaver Press\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Wendy Post — Not unlike towns all around the nation and world, the Town of Owego was host to a vigil on Sunday evening,...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2025\/09\/23\/hundreds-gather-at-hickories-park-for-charlie-kirk-vigil\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Owego Pennysaver Press\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/The-Owego-Pennysaver-49179420591\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-09-23T12:02:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-24T11:19:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2025\/09\/Kirk4.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"450\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"psadvert\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"psadvert\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2025\/09\/23\/hundreds-gather-at-hickories-park-for-charlie-kirk-vigil\/\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2025\/09\/23\/hundreds-gather-at-hickories-park-for-charlie-kirk-vigil\/\",\"name\":\"Hundreds gather at Hickories Park for Charlie Kirk Vigil - Owego Pennysaver Press\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2025\/09\/23\/hundreds-gather-at-hickories-park-for-charlie-kirk-vigil\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2025\/09\/23\/hundreds-gather-at-hickories-park-for-charlie-kirk-vigil\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2025\/09\/Kirk4.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-23T12:02:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-24T11:19:00+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/#\/schema\/person\/e03684194434956dfb61f5ffcbc19492\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2025\/09\/23\/hundreds-gather-at-hickories-park-for-charlie-kirk-vigil\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2025\/09\/23\/hundreds-gather-at-hickories-park-for-charlie-kirk-vigil\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2025\/09\/23\/hundreds-gather-at-hickories-park-for-charlie-kirk-vigil\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2025\/09\/Kirk4.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2025\/09\/Kirk4.jpeg\",\"width\":600,\"height\":450,\"caption\":\"Hundreds arrive at Hickories Park in Owego, N.Y., on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, for a vigil for Charlie Kirk. 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