More than a thousand motorcyclists took to the roads of western Pennsylvania on Saturday to honor Corey Comperatore—a firefighter, Army veteran, and father—who was killed one year ago while shielding his family during an assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
The memorial ride, dubbed Corey’s Cruise, began early Saturday morning at Freeport High School in Sarver, where Comperatore graduated in 1992 before serving a decade in the U.S. Army Reserves. Later, he became chief of the Buffalo Township Fire Department, continuing a lifelong commitment to public service.
Comperatore’s widow, Helen, and daughters, Kaylee and Allyson, led the procession in a white Ford Mustang convertible. Behind them trailed more than 1,000 motorcyclists, some having traveled from as far as West Virginia and the Poconos to honor a man many never met but deeply respected.
“It Was the Least We Could Do”
Among those in attendance was Steve Magoc, a longtime firefighter and close friend of Comperatore.
“Just coming out to show the family support,” Magoc, 41, told Newsweek. “This is the biggest ride I’ve ever seen. It shows how deeply Corey touched this community.”
Karen Walker, 70, of Saxonburg, made the ride with her brother and his dog. Though she never met Comperatore, she said his sacrifice and the symbolism of that day resonated with Americans across the political spectrum.
“The tragedy of his death, coupled with the resilience of our president, created a wave of unity and national pride,” she said. “Corey would be overwhelmed.”
Jerry and Karen Bowser of Grove City echoed that sentiment.
“Corey was fantastic,” Karen said. “He used to be our neighbor. Just a great man.”
Dave Smith, 57, of Peters Township, rode in the memorial despite recently undergoing leg surgery.
“I’m still recovering, but this was important,” he said. “The respect this man earned—he’d be absolutely blown away by the turnout.”
A Life Defined by Service and Sacrifice
Comperatore, a devout Christian and Doberman enthusiast, was killed on July 13, 2024, after gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire from a rooftop near a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The gunfire wounded then-candidate Trump and two others—David Dutch, 58, and James Copenhaver, 74.
But it was Comperatore’s final act—shielding his wife and daughters from the bullets—that has defined his legacy.
Music and Memories
Following the ride, a memorial concert was held in Russellton, headlined by country musician Gary Burk III, a Butler County native who wrote Until We Meet Again in Comperatore’s memory.
Burk, who has grown close to the Comperatore family over the past year, said the day was about more than just remembrance.
“We’re honoring an American hero,” he told Newsweek. “This ride, this music—it’s about unity and making sure Corey’s sacrifice is never forgotten.”
Proceeds from the ride and concert will support causes Comperatore held dear: local fire departments, churches, and Doberman rescues.
A Family Still Healing
Comperatore’s mother and sisters did not attend the memorial events. His sister, Kelly Comperatore Meeder, told Newsweek the grief remains too raw.
“This is still too difficult for my mother,” she said. “She buried her only son. The baby of our family. She struggles every day.”
Instead of a public gathering, the family held a two-day blood drive in April to honor Corey’s legacy in a quieter, yet impactful way.
“We wanted people to save lives in his name,” Meeder said. “Not with money—but with blood. With something that can directly help another human being. That’s what he would’ve wanted.”
The Freeport blood drive collected more than 190 units and organizers hope to make it a national tradition.
“My brother would be proud,” Meeder said. “He didn’t think of himself as a hero. He would’ve said he did what any good father would do—he took that bullet for his little girl. And he’d do it again.”
“He Lived for His Family, and He Died Protecting Them”
In the eyes of his family, friends, and strangers from across the country, Corey Comperatore will be remembered not just for how he died—but how he lived: humbly, faithfully, and with a heart full of service.
“He lived for his family,” Meeder said. “And he died protecting them.”
