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Meet the man who's bringing his blimp to Restoring Unity in Birmingham

August 25, 2015
Staff

WRITER

As a conservative Christian, Patrick Walsh went through missionary aviation school before he felt guided to start an air sign business. Inspired by the Never Again Is Now movement Glenn started talking about earlier this year, Walsh realized his business gave him the unique opportunity to support the cause in a very special way. And it would involve his 150-foot blimp.

"We had a guy call us a couple of weeks ago and say, 'I want to come. But me coming is a little different.' And we said, 'okay.' And he said, 'I want to bring my blimp,'" Glenn said.

Walsh explained the hot air blimp will be a massive display in the sky above the march in Birmingham from 9:00 to 11:00 am on Saturday, providing aerial coverage live streamed via Meerkat.

"Can I ask why you're doing this, Patrick?" Glenn said.

Walsh said he's always looking for ways to use the skills and resources God has blessed him with to amplify His message.

"When Christians are being persecuted in the Middle East, and here in the United States lives are being threatened, you know, we can't have unity without recognizing and dealing with these hard issues. All lives matter. We have to bring attention to each of these situations," Walsh said.

Listen to the exchange or read the full transcript below.

Below is a rush transcript for this segment, it might contain errors.

GLENN: Birmingham is just about sold out for the -- the event on Saturday. We'd love for you to attend. Grab your tickets now at now.mercuryone.org. Or GlennBeck.com. And it's going to be quite an amazing -- just a really amazing weekend of unity of people coming together from all walks of life that all know that they have something to contribute. They can do something. And a lot of people kind of dismiss what they have. We had a guy call us -- call Mercury a couple of weeks ago and say, I want to come. But me coming is a little -- is a little different. And we said, okay. And he said, I want to bring my blimp.

And it's funny because that's what my wife says when she wants to go places. And his name is Patrick Walsh. And he's with us on the phone now. Patrick, how are you? Patrick, are you there?

PATRICK: Real pleasure to be part of this in even a small way.

GLENN: So where are you from, Patrick?

PATRICK: I'm out of North Central Florida, the Gainesville area. But our company covers the whole United Sates and many international locations as well.

But, you know, when I heard about the message, I heard about this event, you know, personally I like to align myself with messages and missions I truly agree with, and I couldn't imagine a better one at this time. And a better event and movement to be a part of. And, you know, if there's anything I can do to amplify this message, of course, I would love to be part of that.

GLENN: Okay. I will tell you that you're a really humble guy. And I hate to have you go and not at least receive some attention on what you do for a living. So I'm going to mention your -- your company. AirSign.com. You have a 150-foot blimp?

PATRICK: Yeah. So we operate a bunch of different aerial type of products. But this is a brand-new thing that we've just introduced to the US market. And we have two of these so far, but one of them that we'll be using for this event next Saturday. It's a 150-foot eco blimp. So it's an environmentally friendly blimp. It utilizes a thermal hot air system, compared to your traditional, you know, helium.

But it's going to be a super cool, you know, massive display in the sky above the march. We'll be flying it from 9:00 to 11:00 on Saturday. Not only will have this big message on each side of the blimp. It will be providing aerial coverage that will be live streamed down to the Meerkat team. Just a fun -- and a way just to amplify and bring the message. A lot of people refer it even as a social media super charger. You know, we'll have this big massive hashtag on the side of it with your message.

GLENN: So you -- you're going to be flying 500 feet above us. Isn't that really low?

PATRICK: It is. So between 500 to 1,000 feet. But there's a lot of logistics associated with this. We had to get a specific block of airspace cleared from the FAA and the control tower and ATC (phonetic), up in that area. And that's where they cleared us for, which is great. You know, from an audience perspective, we'll be able to provide some great footage. It will look massive. It will be right above everybody.

GLENN: That's great. So you are -- this is the great thing. I don't know if we've even announced this yet. Did I talk about Meerkat on the air yet? We've gotten with the people of Meerkat and they've agreed to put us right at the front page of Meerkat I think it's on Saturday. And there will be four live streams. There will be one with me all the time. There will be another one with the crowd. There will be another one someplace else. And then one up in the blimp. And then you can pick. It's like a control room switcher. You can pick which feed you want to watch and go back and forth between them. So you'll actually be up in the blimp, and you'll be controlling the Meerkat feed?

PATRICK: Yeah. I'll probably -- although I fly the blimp occasionally, one of our pilots will be up there. So I'll be able to be down on the ground and see it in action as well. But, yeah, one of our pilots will be controlling the video feed through a GoPro linked directly through the Live Stream to the Meerkat. So you'll get the aerial coverage and, occasionally, a shot of the cockpit or the blimp team as well.

GLENN: Can I ask why you're doing this, Patrick?

PATRICK: Yeah. So when I look at causes, you know, early on in my life, I actually -- I've always had a life for aviation and went through all my flight school to pursue that dream. But early on, I wanted to pursue a career in missions. I'm a conservative Christian. Definitely very dedicated or try to be to the Lord. And went through aviation school. Was inspired by people like Nate Saint. His son, Steve Saint -- you know, his father was the missionary martyr down in South America. He was one of my mentors growing up.

So true to life, I've tried to not only live it out, but also do things to make a difference. You know, now as I went through missionary aviation school and God intervened and guided me to this air sign business, I've looked for ways in the United States and internationally that we can use the skills and resources that we have or the company that God has blessed me with, to amplify his message. You know, I align myself with missions and great causes. I look at this, all lives matter. Never again is now. It's a message that we need and it needs to be amplified. I think the hashtags they'll be using for the blimp are the unity blimp. Or just #Unityblimp. And that's perfect because when Israel is being threatened, when Christians are being persecuted in the Middle East, and here in the United States, lives are being threatened, you know, we can't have unity without recognizing and dealing with these hard issues. All lives matter. We have to bring attention to each of these situations. That's why I love you and the messages that you put out. You know, I'm a dad. I have seven kids. I want to be a good example for them and train them to grow up in a way that will use their life for a great purpose as well.

GLENN: Patrick, I appreciate it. Thank you so much. I hope to shake your hand and meet you on Saturday.

PATRICK: Yeah, absolutely. Thank you for allowing us to be part of this.

GLENN: You bet. AirSign.com. AirSign.com.

Warning: 97% fear Gen Z’s beliefs could ignite political chaos

NurPhoto / Contributor | Getty Images

In a republic forged on the anvil of liberty and self-reliance, where generations have fought to preserve free markets against the siren song of tyranny, Gen Z's alarming embrace of socialism amid housing crises and economic despair has sparked urgent alarm. But in a recent poll, Glenn asked the tough questions: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from—and what does it mean for America's future? Glenn asked, and you answered—hundreds weighed in on this volatile mix of youthful frustration and ideological peril.

The results paint a stark picture of distrust in the system. A whopping 79% of you affirm that Gen Z's socialist sympathies stem from real economic gripes, like sky-high housing costs and a rigged game tilted toward the elite and corporations—defying the argument that it's just youthful naivety. Even more telling, 97% believe this trend arises from a glaring educational void on socialism's bloody historical track record, where failed regimes have crushed freedoms under the boot of big government. And 97% see these poll findings as a harbinger of deepening generational rifts, potentially fueling political chaos and authoritarian overreach if left unchecked.

Your verdict underscores a moral imperative: America's soul hangs on reclaiming timeless values like self-reliance and liberty. This feedback amplifies your concerns, sending a clear message to the powers that be.

Want to make your voice heard? Check out more polls HERE.

Without civic action, America faces collapse

JEFF KOWALSKY / Contributor | Getty Images

Every vote, jury duty, and act of engagement is civics in action, not theory. The republic survives only when citizens embrace responsibility.

I slept through high school civics class. I memorized the three branches of government, promptly forgot them, and never thought of that word again. Civics seemed abstract, disconnected from real life. And yet, it is critical to maintaining our republic.

Civics is not a class. It is a responsibility. A set of habits, disciplines, and values that make a country possible. Without it, no country survives.

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Civics happens every time you speak freely, worship openly, question your government, serve on a jury, or cast a ballot. It’s not a theory or just another entry in a textbook. It’s action — the acts we perform every day to be a positive force in society.

Many of us recoil at “civic responsibility.” “I pay my taxes. I follow the law. I do my civic duty.” That’s not civics. That’s a scam, in my opinion.

Taking up the torch

The founders knew a republic could never run on autopilot. And yet, that’s exactly what we do now. We assume it will work, then complain when it doesn’t. Meanwhile, the people steering the country are driving it straight into a mountain — and they know it.

Our founders gave us tools: separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, elections. But they also warned us: It won’t work unless we are educated, engaged, and moral.

Are we educated, engaged, and moral? Most Americans cannot even define a republic, never mind “keep one,” as Benjamin Franklin urged us to do after the Constitutional Convention.

We fought and died for the republic. Gaining it was the easy part. Keeping it is hard. And keeping it is done through civics.

Start small and local

In our homes, civics means teaching our children the Constitution, our history, and that liberty is not license — it is the space to do what is right. In our communities, civics means volunteering, showing up, knowing your sheriff, attending school board meetings, and understanding the laws you live under. When necessary, it means challenging them.

How involved are you in your local community? Most people would admit: not really.

Civics is learned in practice. And it starts small. Be honest in your business dealings. Speak respectfully in disagreement. Vote in every election, not just the presidential ones. Model citizenship for your children. Liberty is passed down by teaching and example.

Samuel Corum / Stringer | Getty Images

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Start with yourself. Study the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and state laws. Study, act, serve, question, and teach. Only then can we hope to save the republic. The next election will not fix us. The nation will rise or fall based on how each of us lives civics every day.

Civics isn’t a class. It’s the way we protect freedom, empower our communities, and pass down liberty to the next generation.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE