State News Foundation logo

Small Business Owner Purchases Billboards Across East Tennessee Honoring Charlie Kirk

by | Oct 13, 2025

Mason Burchette, owner and chief operating officer of the Knoxville-based company True Metal Supply, continues to purchase billboards across East Tennessee and Western North Carolina to honor the life of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk.

Kirk died after being shot at his American Comeback Tour event held at Utah Valley University on September 10.

One month since Kirk’s passing, Burchette said he has purchased 15 billboards so far honoring Kirk.

The billboards feature a photo of Kirk and the quote, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” The words, “Christ is Lord” are featured on the opposite side of the billboards.

Burchette said he has “several” of the billboards going up in Knoxville, as well as digital ones in the Cleveland and Chattanooga areas.

“It’s been one month since Charlie Kirk was assassinated. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. We won’t forget,” Burchette said in an X post.

One day after Kirk’s passing, Burchette said he was “more galvanized than ever to step into the arena,” adding, “Charlie Kirk did not die in vain.”

Burchette attended Kirk’s memorial service held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on September 21, which he called the “most incredible thing” he’s “ever witnessed.”

While the billboards featuring Kirk have been widely praised online, Burchette reported that he has received anonymous email threats, negative Google reviews for his company, and had an employee quit over the ad purchase.

Despite this, Burchette said he will not be deterred and “the billboards aren’t coming down.”

True Metal Supply operates two facilities in Knoxville and Asheville, North Carolina.

– – –

Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Billboard” by Mason Burchette. 

 

 

 

 

 

   
This article may be republished only in its entirety and only with proper attribution to State News Foundation.

Written By Kaitlin Housler

Journalist
Read more by Kaitlin Housler

Related Posts

Early Voting for TN-7 Special Election Begins Wednesday

Nov 7, 2025

Early voting for the December 2 special general election to fill the vacant U.S. House seat representing Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District begins Wednesday, November 12.

Voters in the 7th District – which includes Stewart, Montgomery, Robertson, Houston, Dickson, Cheatham, Humphreys, Hickman, Perry, Decatur, Wayne, and parts of Davidson, Benton, and Williamson counties – can bank their votes for the special general through November 26.

read more

Nashville Taskforce Charges MS-13 Gang Members, Others with Numerous Crimes

Nov 7, 2025

Nashville’s Homeland Security Task Force has charged 38 people, including eight Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang members, with crimes related to drug trafficking, firearms, assault, and immigration.

President Donald Trump’s executive order, titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” led to these arrests and criminal charges. The executive order established a Homeland Security Task Force attempting to eliminate cartels, foreign gangs, transnational organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking operations in America.

read more