One student’s voice brought the flags down at Hononegah
Kennlee Rayann has now founded a student chapter of Turning Point USA at Hononegah Community High School.
At Hononegah Community High School’s football game on Friday, Sept. 13, 2025, seventeen-year-old Kennlee Rayann noticed the American and Illinois flags were not lowered, despite state and federal proclamations calling for flags at half-staff from Sept. 11-14. Troubled by the omission, she politely asked administrators to act before the evening kickoff.
Her request prompted the school to lower the flags that night. District officials later explained the delay was due to a communication breakdown with custodial staff and said they are reviewing procedures to ensure timely observance of flag proclamations in the future.
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“I’ve always been very verbal and passionate about my beliefs, and I saw an opportunity to put my voice to use,” Kennlee said. “I felt a move in my heart the moment I pulled into the parking lot and knew I wouldn’t just stand by.”
“Watching it be lowered and looking at it for the rest of the evening was a reminder to keep those of recent tragic events in everyone’s thoughts and prayers,” she added.
A mother’s reaction
For Karley Pitterle, watching her daughter step into this role was no surprise. “My first thought was simply, ‘That’s my girl,’” Karley said. “She isn’t afraid to stand up and speak out when something matters to her. Kennlee is respectful, articulate, and a natural communicator. Watching her use her voice with courage and conviction inspires me every day.”
Karley added that the community’s support has been overwhelming. “Her video explaining what happened has been shared more than 200 times in just a few days,” she said. “The encouragement pouring in has touched our hearts. Not all the comments have been positive, but Kennlee handles them with grace — her response is always, ‘God bless them, I’m praying for them.’”
Finding her voice
Kennlee admitted she was nervous when approaching her principal. “I typically don’t ‘talk back’ in any way and am a quiet student. I was putting myself in an unpredictable situation,” she explained. But she said her faith and sense of purpose kept her steady: “I knew who I was doing this in honor of, and I knew I wouldn’t back down.”
She hopes her actions encourage others to use their voices. “What looks to be something so simple can have such a deep meaning and impact on others,” she said. “To my fellow students, I just hope they realize that when it goes against what you believe, use your voice. Speak up for yourself and others, because that’s the only way this country will be changed and saved.”
Facing support and criticism
Since her stand, Kennlee has been thanked by faculty and classmates, while also facing criticism online. “I have received lots of supportive comments and messages, but I’ve also received negative ones from grown adults,” she said. “At school I have been stopped by some faculty and thanked for speaking up.”
Her advocacy has also opened new opportunities. Within a day of speaking out, she connected with Turning Point USA and founded a student chapter at Hononegah, where 19 students signed up on its first day.
Turning Point USA: what chapters do
Turning Point USA, a nonprofit founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk and Bill Montgomery, runs student-led chapters on high school and college campuses nationwide. Its stated mission is to “identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government.” Chapters typically host events, bring in speakers, and organize campus activities focused on civic engagement and conservative ideas.
Since Kirk’s assassination, TPUSA reports it has seen a surge of interest, receiving more than 54,000 requests from students and supporters to form new chapters. The organization currently lists about 900 college chapters and 1,200 high school chapters in operation.
New opportunities at school
Karley believes this is just the beginning of her daughter’s impact. “Kennlee is a true inspiration and a leader in the making,” she said. “She pours her heart and soul into everything, even when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular. She is a world-changer who wants to help others by sharing her story.”
Kennlee said she takes no pride in the recognition and credits her faith for guiding her actions. “All glory goes to God for placing this upon my heart,” she said. “If anyone wants to say it was only for Charlie Kirk, I will gladly stand up and say I am also Charlie Kirk from Roscoe, Illinois, and my name is Kennlee Rayann.”
Remembering what unites us
Flag protocols in Illinois and across the U.S. made the window of Sept. 11-14 especially important. On Patriot Day, September 11, 2025, President Donald J. Trump proclaimed that the American flag be flown at half-staff in honor of the 2,977 innocent lives lost in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He also ordered that the flag be flown at half-staff through sunset on Sunday, September 14, 2025, as a mark of respect for Charlie Kirk. In Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker directed flags to fly at half-staff for "victims of political violence" from Friday through Sunday.
The flags at Hononegah were lowered that night and remained at half-staff through Sept. 14, in line with state and federal orders.
