The Hardware Man - Butler Rally - My Story - Part III
- Editor
- Jul 19
- 3 min read
This will be published in a 4 part series
each week, below is part 3.
We gathered at Janna’s house and another couple friends also joined us. There we hugged, prayed again and watched the stream of news hit the wire. Texts from friends arrived as word spread about our proximity to the incident. My oldest brother, who was chaperoning a youth group trip to Washington DC with my oldest son, called to check in on us. Ever the small world, one of our friends had worked with Corey for years and they greeted each other that morning. He had taken a picture of our group from afar and Corey noticed and mugged for the shot. He had seen the aftermath from the crowd and thought it was him that went down.
As we headed home after dark, we passed by the scene of the crime. It was heavily secured by law enforcement with media already lining the road. The Star-Spangled Banner continued to wave in the breeze, illuminated by the stage spotlights.
The days following were spent in an emotional fog. We gathered regularly to decompress, to share our emotions and to help each other heal. Our spirits were lifted as we felt the country remember God and give thanks for protecting Trump and the crowd. But our thoughts went continually to the family, who we hadn’t known but grieved for. We attended Corey’s viewing, which was exceptionally secure, and reintroduced ourselves to Helen and the girls. We were invited to the funeral, which helped us process and come to terms of an untimely violent death. I never thought I would shake Billy Ray Cyrus’s hand and thank him for playing at Corey’s funeral, but I did. He was one of many famous but very normal people that showed support to the family. At the dinner after, we met a few others that were at the rally around us, and we continue to text and occasionally gather to this day.
It took me about two weeks to process the events, wondering why it wasn’t me and thankful for God’s mercy to our family. We met with the FBI, shared what little information we could and tried to carry on with life. My niece Alexa wrote to President Trump, sharing she had prayed for him and his protection as he took the stage that night. She had watched bullets fly close overhead and watched Corey fall. He responded with a letter that had two signatures, one auto-pen, the other by his own hand.
The story of Corey and Helen has been highlighted regularly in the news, as she champions her hero, her best friend and husband. They were a private family that was happy and content with their life. Being shoved into the limelight was a difficult thing for her and the girls as the world chanted “Corey, Corey, Corey”. She told us of the love sent and received by millions and of President Trump calling her regularly through the weeks after to check on her. She told us of the hate mail that was received, of unwelcome visitors and media that trespassed on her property. She talked about her dogs difficulty adjusting to Corey’s absence.
While life continues for us, we understand the grief Helen experiences. In some ways, the women in our group and her bonded over the ability to share mutual feelings that not many others could understand. Any unexpected passing brings pain and trauma, but to be the difference-making footnote in a world-impacting event is a different level. If the world remembers anything about the Butler rally, as they watch Trump flinch, grab his ear and crouch down, remember Corey Comperatore was there to the left side of the screen, covering his family and warning others. The screaming you hear is his daughter Kaylee. His family went home without him that night. And while the news cycle turns and attention spans drift to the next sensational tragedy, there is a loving wife continuing to broadcast the values he stood for. She and her family is doing an admirable job with Corey’s Cruise and giving back to the community that supported them the most during the darkest of days.
Corey’s Cruise will be held July 25, 2026 at the Big Butler Fair Grounds in Prospect.
Part 4 next week.
Daniel Karns and his wife own Clintonville Hardware & Rental along with other businesses. Join the discussion by contacting him at info@clintonvillehardware.com.