For three Coudersport men, volunteering to help set up President Trump’s Montoursville rally last weekend turned into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will continue on as a cherished memory for years to come.
Coudersport native, Daniel Cowburn explained the opportunity to help out with the rally was presented by Mary Stiffler from the Trump Victory 2020 Campaign.
According to Cowburn, the rally was initially supposed to take place on Sunday, though Stiffler began asking volunteers to be there by 9 p.m. last Friday to help set up after the event was moved to Saturday.
A group of volunteers arrived at 9 p.m. to help set up for the event, but by 5 a.m. Saturday morning, the only three volunteers left were Cowburn and his friends Don Kudrick and Clark Lerch. Even though the three men worked tirelessly for 12 hours, running power lines, setting up the stage and chairs and even placing the podium on the stage, Kudrick said it was “an honor and a privilege just to be there helping the president” and it didn’t really feel like work at all.
“It felt pretty special to do that,” added Cowburn. “They had to have a certain amount to set up by Saturday morning. They said it normally takes two or three days to set up, but we did it in 12 hours.”
After the set-up was complete, the three changed into volunteer mode, with Lerch’s job checking press credentials and escorting them to places where cameras were set up.
“That was nice getting to see that aspect of it,” he explained. “I worked right under the White House Communications Director.”
The three men said all the hard work did come with some fringe benefits though.
“They took care of us all day,” said Lerch. “We got to go up on the stage and get our pictures taken with the seal on the podium — at one point, a C-17 Secret Service plane landed and a guy took us out onto the runway and we got to see them unload all of their equipment out there. It was just one after another of the little privileges.”
Additionally, Lurch said the three men were given cards to write their names on and told to put them wherever they want to sit at the event, so they were able to watch Trump speak right from the front row.
When the event was over, Cowburn, Lerch and Kudrick were called down front, where they were greeted by campaign organizer, Nathan Naidu, and presented with some very special gifts.
“These are challenge coins that only the president has,” said Naidu. “On behalf of the President of the United States, he is presenting you this challenge coin for your dedication and loyalty to the president and the White House.”
The men were also each presented with a pen that Trump himself used earlier that day to sign a memorandum in support of the fracking sector.
In a text message to Kudrick Thursday afternoon, Naidu said to make sure they take credit for their achievements, adding “On behalf of the White House, I am telling you that’s commitment unlike we’ve ever seen.”
While talking with the Era, Cowburn expressed how thankful the three men were to their wives for all their support, the Potter County Republican Committee and for the help and support of Mary Stiffler from the Trump Victory 2020 Campaign.
“If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t have ever had this opportunity,” he said in conclusion.
