‘You could feel the intensity and love in the crowd’: Butler County first responders lead presidential parade
More than 100 first responders from Butler County led the inaugural parade for President Donald Trump on Monday, Jan. 20, carrying Corey Comperatore’s helmet and jacket with them.
First responders who attended, assisted or were otherwise associated with the July 13 rally in Butler County were invited to walk first in the parade by Trump’s inaugural committee.
Rob McLafferty, coordinator for the Butler County 911 center, said the day started for the first responders shortly after midnight, when buses were loaded.
After arriving in Washington, the group then had to travel to the Pentagon to receive clearances. Finally, the group was taken to the Capital One Arena, where they were “treated fantastically.”
The parade, typically held along Pennsylvania Avenue, was held indoors at the arena due to low temperatures.
McLafferty said that walking in the parade was an “intense experience,” specifically noting the energy of the crowd and the outpouring of love and respect felt by the first responders.
“They didn’t know us; they know what we represented,” McLafferty said.
In a phone interview, other first responders joined in to quickly explain their experience, calling the day “overwhelming,” “emotional,” “goosebump-invoking” and ultimately, “an honor and a blessing.”
McLafferty felt a deep sense of pride around the event, as it served to honor Comperatore.
Comperatore, a former Buffalo Township fire chief, was killed at the July 13 campaign event at the Butler Farm Show grounds while protecting his family from gunfire. Trump survived the assassination attempt. Two others were seriously injured in the shooting before the gunman was killed.
A moment of silence was also held at the event in Comperatore’s honor.
“To have an inaugural event, which is watched all over the world, completely stop and pause in the memory of Corey was awe-inspiring,” McLafferty said.
At the front of the procession was Buffalo Township fire chief Kip Johnston and firefighter Tyler Hill, who carried Comperatore’s helmet and jacket respectively.
Johnston was particularly moved by the crowd’s respect and admiration for Comperatore.
“It was truly an honor,” he said. “Just to see and hear the people honor him that way truly meant something.”
Rico Elmore, Air National Guardsman and vice chairman of the Republican Committee of Beaver County, also led the procession alongside Johnston and Hill. He rushed to assist Comperatore and his family after shots were fired.
“Today, we did a beautiful thing that honored Corey. His family is overjoyed,” Elmore said.
Elmore felt honored to help lead the procession and could not believe the outpouring of support from the crowd.
“It was really a chance to show the world, kids, mothers and fathers, it is possible for anybody to be on the stage,” Elmore said.
Elmore also felt the day ended up being a real moment of respect for Comperatore and first responders as a whole.
“There were no problems. No issues. No fights. People were happy,” Elmore said. “That’s the Corey way. He shined down on us. People were so loving and caring.”