Archiving and documenting here for our PATRIOT PICKET organization history is the narrative of our participation in a prior mission to honor the late Corey Comperatore during President Trump’s “Return to Butler” Campaign event on October 5, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania.

PATRIOT PICKET returned to Butler County during the first week of October 2024 for the third time since the summer, after serving at the visitation and funeral of Corey Comperatore, to continue our partnership with the national non-partisan, non-profit volunteer organization THE PATRIOT FLAG.

(See the previous three Patriot Picket blogposts describing our participation at the Comperatore visitation and funeral.)

The U.S. Flag shown depicted above flew above the “Return to Butler” stage; THE PATRIOT FLAG we raised flew above the spectator entrance to the Farm Show Grounds:

This event extensively memorialized Mr. Comperatore, who was mortally wounded while shielding his wife and daughters in the grandstand behind President Trump during the assassination attempt on President Trump’s life during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show Grounds on July 13, 2024.

Our mission during this “Return to Butler” memorial event was to raise and fly the enormous (28’ x 60’) “PATRIOT FLAG” above the Butler Farm Show Grounds to honor the life, service and sacrifice of the late Corey Comperatore.

Shown below (center, foreground) holding The Patriot Flag after the visitation are Corey’s wife Helen and (at right) and their two daughters Allyson and Kaylee.

Together in Butler County our two organizations worked closely with the Trump Campaign event lead to receive the authorization of the Campaign and approval by the U.S. Secret Service to fly THE PATRIOT FLAG above the spectator entrance to the Farm Show Grounds.

There was of course a security concern associated with our mission — we were adding an “elevated position” to the “Return to Butler” event — however as trusted partners we were cleared to enter and operate within the secured area with the permission and continuous surveillance of the U.S. Secret Service (and their local law enforcement partners), approved to proceed to raise and fly The Patriot Flag there.

We were extremely fortunate during this mission to receive the invaluable assistance of the SAXONBURG VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY, which agreed to provide us the use of their aerial tower ladder truck “LADDER 15” to fly The Patriot Flag for the entire duration of this public memorial event, from dawn until dusk.

Chief Comperatore was Saxonburg VFC’s fellow local community first responder, having previously served as Fire Chief of the nearby Buffalo Township (PA) Volunteer Fire Company.

We arrived before dawn on October 5, 2024 at the Farm Show Grounds, passed through a U.S. Secret Service security checkpoint, and proceeded to our designated site. 

The crew of Ladder 15 rapidly positioned their aerial tower truck and extended the hydraulic outriggers and jacks to prepare for the arrival of The Patriot Flag.

The Flag arrived the previous day in New York City by air from San Diego, California with THE PATRIOT FLAG co-founder Mitch Mendler (SDFD Paramedic, Ret).  Mitch was joined there by fellow Patriot Flag co-founder Lt. Joe Torrillo, FDNY (Ret).

Together they transported The Patriot Flag from NYC to Butler County that day, and arrived at the Butler Farm Show Grounds with the Flag early that morning.

The weather on this momentous occasion was splendid, and after being rigged and raised The Patriot Flag flew spectacularly in the breeze all day:

Many invited speakers and President Trump spoke from the event stage to praise the life, community service and sacrifice of Corey Comperatore.

Chief Comperatore’s fire coat and helmet were positioned in the grandstand behind them at the approximate seat where he was wounded shielding his family, and this image was shown on the event’s big screen:

Evident was the heavy security, with U.S. Secret Service and regional ESU/SWAT counter-snipers positioned on the surrounding building rooftops and nearby rodeo and show ring grandstands to achieve complete surveillance of the Grounds:

Heavily-armed U.S. Secret Service and Homeland Security agents controlled access for the estimated 50 - 60,000 spectators through the security portals depicted below, and were supplemented by State and local police who patrolled the entire perimeter and within the Farm Show Grounds with dog teams as well:

Mitch Mendler and Lt. Joe Torrillo (first picture) and Kevin Hulbert, co-founder of Patriot Picket (second picture), pose for some pictures aboard SVFC Ladder 15:

Lt. Joe Torrillo is a living hero of 9/11; Joe grabbed available fire-fighting gear at a firehouse in lower Manhattan and raced to the scene; he entered the burning Twin Towers without regard for his own life to attempt to reach those still trapped on the upper floors, and was trapped himself when the Towers collapsed.

Joe was the last New York City firefighter pulled alive from beneath tons of concrete and steel rubble created by the collapse of the World Trade Center Towers on 9/11.

Joe was unconscious and remained in a coma in the hospital for three days after the 9/11 collapse, and was hospitalized for many weeks suffering multiple severe fractures, internal injuries and brain trauma.  Joe was eventually medically retired from the FDNY due to his extensive injuries.

However, in partnership with Mitch Mendler and The Patriot Flag, Joe has continued to serve and honor their fellow fallen first responders, police and members of the U.S. Armed Forces through their combined leadership and support of THE PATRIOT FLAG organization.

As darkness approached and spectators continued to stream out of the Butler Farm Show Grounds, The Patriot Flag was carefully lowered by the crew of LADDER 15.

Many of the departing spectators were invited to assist us in the gathering-in of the Patriot Flag.

They remained to conduct a ceremonial folding of The Patriot Flag into the traditional triangular shape before it was secured in its custom zippered, embroidered carrying case:

To learn more about THE PATRIOT FLAG, click on this link to visit their website:

ThePatriotFlag.us

PATRIOT PICKET extends our sincere gratitude to Mitch Mendler and Lt. Joe Torrillo of THE PATRIOT FLAG organization, and to the Fire Chief, Department members and crew of SAXONBURG VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY aerial tower “LADDER 15” for their non-partisan, public service to honor the memory and family of Chief Comperatore.

We also extend our sincere thanks to the UNITED REPUBLICANS of BUTLER COUNTY, led by URBC Chair Cindy Hilderbrand and Vice Chair Cynthia Guenther, for their invaluable assistance to Patriot Picket, for their members welcoming us so graciously to their local office during this mission, for facilitating key contacts with other local partners in Butler County, as well for their extraordinary public service and well-coordinated leadership within Butler County.