Helen Comperatore shares her impressions of parade
Helen Comperatore, the widow of Corey Comperatore, told the Butler Eagle she was deeply honored by the respect given to her husband at President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20.
The Comperatore family was attending Trump’s July 13 rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds when gunshots rang out. Corey, a former Buffalo Township fire chief, was killed while shielding his family.
First responders from across Butler County led Trump’s inaugural parade Monday, with Buffalo Township Chief Kip Johnston carrying Corey Comperatore’s helmet and firefighter Tyler Hill carrying his jacket. A moment of silence was held in Comperatore’s honor.
Helen Comperatore watched the parade from a suite in the Capital One Arena. She said the experience was deeply moving.
“It's been a long six months,” she said. “It's just been tough, but tonight is where we wanted to be.”
She said one of her husband’s greatest hopes was that Trump would be reelected; thus the bittersweet day gave her the sense things had come full circle.
“We got to bring Corey here for the event,” Helen said. “Watching the president pump his fist as Corey's helmet walked by was amazing.”
