Corey Comperatore’s widow shares reaction to Saturday Trump rally at Butler Farm Show grounds
Helen Comperatore debated whether she could muster up enough willpower to return to the Butler Farm Show grounds nearly three months after her husband, Corey, was killed July 13 at a campaign rally there for former President Donald Trump.
But after knowing for sure that Trump would be returning to the same location where Corey died protecting his family, she did not turn down the opportunity.
“I was upset and scared when I found out he (Trump) was coming back to the same place,” she said. “I didn’t feel that I could walk into that place again. After I had to discuss it with the girls, we decided we would do it for Corey. And we did.”
As a former Buffalo Township fire chief, a memorial for Corey, that included his firefighter’s jacket and helmet along with several bouquets of flowers were set up in the stands in the early morning hours Saturday.
She and several members of her family took part in a meet-and-greet with Trump and his running mate, U.S. Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, in the hours leading up to the rally.
“He (Trump) said it was great to finally meet us and that he was going to make it a special event, and he hoped we liked it,” she said of her conversation with the two men atop the 2024 Republican ticket. “He invited us to Mar-a-Lago for dinner. JD Vance expressed his condolences and said if he could ever do anything to please ask.”
Thousands chanted Corey’s name as Trump paused his speech and looked at the crowd.
“This field is now a monument to the valor of our first responders, to the resilience of our fellow citizens and to the sacrifice of a loving and devoted father and a really great man,” said Trump.
Helen said that the early portions of Trump’s speech evoked plenty of emotions.
“It was amazing. We all felt amazing,” she said. “It brought us to tears when they all chanted Corey’s name. Corey would have loved all of this. He would have been so proud of his former president for taking care of his family when he couldn’t.”
After honoring Corey’s life, Trump elicited a number of cheers in a passionate appeal to his base, with a weighty election now less than a month away.
Helen said she believes the messaging from Trump was on point for what the rally represented and encouraged everyone to take advantage of their right to choose the country’s next leader on Nov. 5.
“I thought (the messaging) was perfect for the crowd there,” she said. “We have to vote. It’s imperative. His (Trump’s) speech about Corey — so many people were there for us. It was perfect.”
