July 13 first responders invited to be in inauguration parade
First responders who were at the July 13 campaign rally for now President-elect Donald Trump have been invited to take part in his inauguration parade Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C.
Various first responders, including local firefighters and law enforcement officers, will march in the parade along Pennsylvania Avenue following Trump’s swearing-in ceremony.
The first responders will march with the flag used at the visitation of Corey Comperatore, the Buffalo Township firefighter killed at the rally. The first responders also will carry Comperatore’s helmet at the front of the group.
Kevin Hulbert, who described himself as the parade coordinator for Butler County first responders, runs an organization called The Patriot Flag. The organization, based in San Diego, provided a large American flag for the visitation and funeral for Comperatore and the public memorial at the Butler County Farm Show grounds.
“My idea was after the election that there is such a close connection to the Butler first responders, I said let’s arrange for the patriot flag to be carried in the parade, and I approached the United Republicans of Butler County to discuss it, and they were all for it,” Hulbert said.
Hulbert, who lives in Virginia, volunteered to coordinate the involvement in Washington, while the United Republicans of Butler County will work with first responders planning to attend.
“The first responders were always the focus of the proposal,” Hulbert said.
Cindy Hilderbrand, president of the United Republicans of Butler County, said the organization’s committee members and the first responders at the rally have been invited to be in the parade.
Hilderbrand said the organization might organize a fundraiser to help pay for busing to help transport first responders to and from the parade.
Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe said he was contacted and has two of his deputies marching in the parade.
Jim Hulings, committee chairman of the Butler County Republican Committee, said all 67 GOP committee leaders in Pennsylvania were invited to the inauguration, and they received an official email invitation Sunday, Dec. 22. Hulings will be in Florida and will not attend, but he emphasized anybody can get a tickets through the inauguration’s official website.
Hulbert said he felt it was a great idea to incorporate the flag into the inauguration, especially with fire departments assisting each time the flag was flown in Butler and when a firetruck was used to hold the pole.
He originally liked the idea of first responders carrying the flag horizontally up Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade. But he discovered the U.S. flag code makes a fine distinction that the flag can be held horizontally only for limited periods of time, and didn’t want to disrespect the flag by carrying it that way for an entire parade.
The flag will fly freely upward while the first responders march with it past former presidents and senators, Supreme Court justices and other distinguished guests.
“It could be meaningful, coming full circle for the responders. It could be their chance for the nation to thank them, for them to pass by everybody, all the guests,” Hulbert said. “This is really a chance for the nation to thank Butler County first responders.”
