Comperatore memorialized by step-brother at revival event in Butler County
SUMMIT TWP — Steve Warheit referred to Corey Comperatore as his brother even before they officially became step-brothers when the two were in high school.
“We always said we were, ‘Brothers,’” Warheit said. “Being step-brothers didn’t matter — brothers.”
Warheit said he is doing what he can in the month since his brother died July 13 at the rally for former President Donald Trump. On Saturday, Aug. 17, Warheit attended a revival event at the Bonniebrook, where he sold T-shirts memorializing Comperatore to raise money for his family.
Saturday’s Red, White and Blue Butler Revival brought together several community organizations, as well as musicians and politicians, who gathered in an effort to relieve some of the tension that followed the shooting that erupted at the rally, which killed Comperatore and injured two other Pennsylvanians. The event also raised money for charities chosen by the Comperatore family, as well as the two people injured, David Dutch, of New Kensington, and James Copenhaver, of Moon Township, said Beau Bechtel, the general manager and event planner of the Bonniebrook.
Bechtel said at the event that some of the trauma people in Butler County have been experiencing since July 13 is similar to what he saw people experiencing when he was a Marine serving in Afghanistan. Bechtel said the event was planned to be part of community healing.
“I go to combat and then I come home and there is an attempted assassination of a former president in my backyard,” he said. “Being around good people can be a good part of helping that heal.”
The speakers for the event included people who were at the rally, who shared their experience from it.
Additionally, booths had resources available, like the National Alliance on Mental Illness Butler County, which is offering family-to-family support groups in the wake of the shooting. Donna Lamison, the agency’s executive director, said Saturday that while the organization has not seen a huge rise in inquiries for help, NAMI has options available for people who need support.
“There is just a general feeling of being on edge,” Lamison said. “People aren’t going to as many big events as they used to, but we’ve amped up our programs.”
Bechtel said the amount of money raised at the event would be calculated by the end of the day. The raffle baskets available garnered $700, which would be distributed to the three chosen organizations, which included Cabot Church, where Comperatore’s funeral was held.
Bechtel said he noticed other businesses and organizations planning revivals after Saturday’s Red, White and Blue Butler Revival spread online, which he took as a good sign.
“I just feel like the community needed to be brought together,” Bechtel said. “It didn’t matter your political orientation; it’s just that this is our home.”
