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During the Sunday, September 21, public memorial service for the late Charlie Kirk<\/strong><\/a>, his wife, Erika Kirk<\/strong><\/a> (n\u00e9e Frantzve) publicly forgave the man allegedly responsible for her husband\u2019s death.<\/p>\n \u201cI forgive him because it is what Christ did,\u201d Erika, 36, said during her husband\u2019s service, held at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. \u201cThe answer to hate is not hate.\u201d<\/p>\n During her remarks, Erika also urged those in attendance to follow her husband\u2019s example as a wife and a husband.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease be a leader worth following,\u201d she told the thousands of attendees. \u201cYour wife is not your servant. Your wife is not your employee. Your wife is not your slave. She is your helper. You are not rivals. You are one flesh, working together for the glory of God.\u201d<\/p>\n Charlie, a conservative activist and the founder of right-wing organization Turning Point USA, was shot and killed<\/a> on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. He was 31.<\/p>\n \u201cCharlie loved life. He loved his life, he loved America, he loved nature which always helped him closer to God,\u201d Erika said during an X livestream two days later, breaking her silence<\/a> on her husband\u2019s passing. \u201cHe loved the Chicago Cubs and my goodness did he love the Oregon Ducks.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to Erika, Charlie is survived by the couple\u2019s two kids.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of all Charlie loved his children and he loved me with all of his heart and I knew that everyday. He made sure I knew that everyday,\u201d Erika added in her September 12 statement<\/a>. \u201cEveryday he would ask me, \u2018How can I serve you better? How can I be a better husband? How can I be a better father?\u2019 \u2026 He was a such a good man. He still is such a good man. He was the perfect father. He was the perfect husband.\u201d<\/p>\n Erika also revealed how her children had been coping with the news.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I got home last night,our daughter just ran into my arms and I talked to her and she said, \u2018Mommy, I miss you,\u2019\u201d she recalled. \u201cI said, \u2018I miss you too, baby,\u2019 and she goes, \u2018Where\u2019s Daddy?\u2019 How do you tell a 3-year-old? And I said, \u2018Daddy loves you so much, baby, he\u2019s on a work trip with Jesus so he can afford your blueberry budget.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Erika, who has been named the new CEO of Turning Point, has since been candid about the final moments<\/a> she shared with Charlie.<\/p>\n \u201cHis eyes were semi-open,\u201d Erika recalled of seeing Charlie\u2019s body in a The New York Times <\/i>interview published earlier on Sunday. \u201cHe had this knowing, Mona Lisa-like half-smile, like, he died happy. Like Jesus rescued him. The bullet came, he blinked, and he was in heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n