I was honored to join members of my family and more than 40 passengers aboard the Destin Princess as the Charlie Kirk Memorial Reef was lowered into the Gulf about two miles off Henderson Beach.
Spearheaded by Capt. Mike Parker with help from his wife, Marguerite and several local donors, the project came together through tremendous community support. The group raised $17,000 to have the 18-foot-tall reef constructed by Walter Marine in Orange Beach, Ala. Weighing more than 17 tons, it is considerably larger than a typical memorial reef.
Before its deployment, the structure was personalized with Kirk’s name, the Turning Point USA logo, a microphone, his familiar “Prove Me Wrong” message and other meaningful dedications.
Several vessels gathered for the occasion, including the Blanchita, Destination, Discipleship and private boats. One especially moving moment came when Capt. Parker praised God for the reef’s successful completion and deployment.
Watching this massive memorial disappear beneath the water was something I will never forget. It was both a tribute and a gift to our Gulf—a monument that will grow into a thriving habitat for marine life and become a special destination for divers and anglers for years to come.
A heartfelt thanks go to Capt. Mike and Marguerite Parker, the private donors and everyone whose vision and hard work brought this remarkable memorial to life.
