The helmet of former Buffalo Township fire chief Corey Comperatore will be be carried by members of the fire department during  Donald Trump's Inauguration Day parade.

WASHINGTON D.C. -- The excitement was evident Monday, Jan. 20, as first responders from Butler County lined up to march in President Donald Trump’s inaugural parade, said one parade participant leading up to the event that would celebrate Trump’s earlier swearing-in to office.

Rico Elmore, an Air National Guardsman and Beaver County Republican, who will be near the front of the procession of about 100 Butler County first responders, was at Capital One Arena Monday afternoon, in line, waiting for the parade to begin.

“We’re all excited,” Elmore said while lining up for the parade. “Everyone’s ready to pay respects for Corey. It’s going to be an amazing day and an amazing congratulations to our new president.”

Elmore had rushed to assist the Comperatore family at the July 13 rally in Butler County, where Corey Comperatore, a rally attendee and former Buffalo Township fire chief, was struck by gunfire and died. Trump survived the assassination attempt and two others were seriously injured in the shooting before the gunman was killed.

He and other first responders who attended, assisted or were otherwise associated with the July 13, were invited to walk first in the parade by Trump’s inaugural committee.

Members from the Buffalo Township Fire Department will carry Corey Comperatore’s helmet and fire jacket at the front of the Inauguration Day parade. The parade, typically held along Pennsylvania Avenue, is scheduled to be held indoors at the Capitol One Arena due to low temperatures.

Helen Comperatore, Corey’s widow, was also able to make it to the Capitol and attend Trump’s post-inaugural speech on Monday afternoon.

“It’s been an extremely busy morning. We had to wait in line for a bus that took us to the Capitol. We got here, it just took a while,” Helen said.

She felt the speech that Trump delivered was “beautiful.”

Inauguration events are expected to continue through the evening, with an Oval Office ceremony and three inaugural balls scheduled for after the parade.