GLENDALE, Ariz. () U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., eulogized conservative activist Charlie Kirk during his memorial service Sunday in Glendale, Arizona. Luna, who once worked for Kirk at Turning Point USA, compared the late media personality to former President George Washington.

“Today, we honor a patriot whose love of this nation burns as brightly as the founding fathers during the birth of our republic. Like George Washington, who sacrificed his peaceful life at Mount Vernon to lead a militia and a small army against the mightiest empire on Earth, risking everything his fortune, his family, his very life to secure liberty for generations unborn.”

The memorial service for Kirk, whom President Donald Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, drew tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, other administration officials and young conservatives.

Luna told the story of a phone call from Kirk years ago that she said changed her life.

“I still remember the phone call that changed my life. ‘Hey, Anna, it’s Charlie. I’d like to offer you a job as TP USA’s national Hispanic outreach director.’ Charlie believed, with every fiber of his being, that the youth of this nation would save it. His fierce patriotism, his unyielding boldness, his prophetic foresight … these were the sparks that lit the path for me on the eve of my departure to medical school to decide to change course and join TP USA, where I could Help Charlie battle the socialist indoctrination on college campuses,” she said.

Kirk was shot and killed on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem.

Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged and faces the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges. Authorities have not revealed a clear motive in the shooting, but prosecutors say Robinson wrote in a text to his partner following the shooting that he “had enough” of Kirk’s opinions.