On Friday, July 19, 500 fire trucks gathered to mourn a man who was killed at former President Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania last Saturday, July 13.
At the Trump rally, Corey Comperatore was shot and killed while shielding his wife and two daughters. He was hailed as a “true hero” by the Pennsylvania Governor and the public. His funeral was held on Friday morning in Cabot, Western Pennsylvania, at the church he regularly attended. In a show of respect for the former firefighter, 500 fire trucks came from all over the United States.
The furthest fire trucks came from Florida and Texas. The procession went from the church to the nearby Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company, where Comperatore had served for many years.
Comperatore, a native Pennsylvanian, had never left his small town. He grew up in Sarver, married his high school sweetheart, and lived with his two daughters there.
On Thursday night, during his speech at the Milwaukee Republican National Convention, Trump specifically mentioned Comperatore, praising him for “selflessly sacrificing his life”. Comperatore’s firefighter uniform was displayed on stage beside Trump during the speech. The former president kissed Comperatore’s helmet and asked the audience to observe a minute of silence in honor of “our friend”.
Trump also spoke with Comperatore’s family that day and raised $6.8 million for the victims of last week’s rally within a few days.
Bill Toland, a spokesperson for the Pittsburgh Allegheny General Hospital, stated that the two men injured at the rally, 74-year-old James Copenhaver and 57-year-old David Dutch, are in serious condition but stable.
Comperatore’s memorial service was held on Thursday and open to the public. In the afternoon, hundreds of people lined up outside the building where the service took place, with some queueing in black dresses and suits. Two snipers were stationed on the roof, and two others were stationed on adjacent buildings.