The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) by Julia Terruso
The city of Philadelphia The police and emergency medical technicians who responded to the Butler assassination attempt will lead a procession down Pennsylvania Avenue when President-elect Donald Trump concludes his inauguration address next week.
One of the pivotal moments of the 2024 campaign was the July murder attempt at the Butler Farm Show Grounds, which occurred only days before the Republican National Convention. At Trump’s inauguration, many of the Pennsylvania fans who attended that day will be reunited.
The gunman, who was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper, murdered Buffalo Township firefighter Corey Comperatore, injured two other people, and clipped Trump’s ear. A bipartisan Congressional Task Force led by U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R., Pa.), a Butler native, and then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned as a result of the assassination attempt, which raised urgent concerns about security lapses.
Butler County First Responders said in a statement released by the Trump Inauguration Committee, “We are trained to do what we did together at the Butler Farm Show Grounds as first responders, police, and pre-hospital emergency teams on that terrible day in July: protect and save lives.”
As we march together in the Inaugural Parade, we are incredibly happy to commemorate our fellow life-savers around the country and hope that all Americans would take a moment today to remember the courage and sacrifice of their own first responders.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, backed Trump after the murder attempt, marking the start of a close political partnership between Trump and the wealthiest man in the world. Trump used the incident as a rallying cry and went back to Butler in October.
In a long list with participants from 23 states, the Butler first responders are ranked second in marching order, behind the U.S. Army. Monday’s procession, which includes equestrian groups, marching bands from high schools and universities, and veterans organizations, travels from the Capitol to the White House.
The day is probably going to be a celebration of Trump and his growing Republican support. Additionally, it will quickly reverse President Joe Biden’s policy program, which may have an immediate effect on the area. Trump has declared that he will take decisive action on Day 1 on a number of issues, such as ordering mass deportations, closing the U.S.-Mexico border, and pardoning Jan. 6 convicts.
Presidents typically wait to sign executive orders until they are in the Oval Office later in the day, after the parade, but he could do it at any point after taking the oath.
A horse named Trump
Tunkhannock, near Scranton, is home to an award-winning Belgian six-horse hitch, the other Pennsylvania group taking part in the inaugural parade.
A large red wagon with white wheels, similar to those used to transport freight a century ago, is pulled by Belgian horses. Trump is the barn name (or nickname) of one of the hitch’s wheel horses, which has received accolades all over the nation.
Don Sherwood, a retired congressman from Northeastern Pennsylvania who owns the horse hitch, stated, “We have a horse that happens to be named Trump that is the North American champion gelding.” Trump won Pennsylvania.
FILE: Former President Donald Trump, a Republican candidate for president, is assisted off the stage during a July 13, 2024, campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania. (Gene J. Puskar, File/AP Photo)AP
According to Sherwood, he contacted the inaugural committee to propose that his horses be included. Additionally, he discussed the proposal with recently sworn Republican Senator Dave McCormick, whom he believes may have given his support.
Although the horses have participated in national parades and performances, this will be their first presidential inauguration. In order to survive the anticipated frigid weather on Monday, they will be fed well and spend the night in a van in Washington.
We might freeze our you-know-whats off because they thrive in the cold, Sherwood remarked. But for all of us, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We’re overjoyed.
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