Pueblo artist pays homage to local Vietnam Veterans

A mural in Downtown Pueblo showcasing names and faces of Vietnam veterans is a gift to the community from one of its own.

“Of all the military people they were not welcome home like the other vets,” creator Anthony Armijo said.

A tribute to the sacrifice and courage of 19 Vietnam vets from Pueblo and four Medal of Honor recipients. Those who came home and those who didn’t.

For Vietnam vet Larry Alvarado the mural serves as the ‘thank you’ he once thought he’d never get.

“I just feel proud,” Alvardao said. “I feel like this is the parade I never had 45 years ago.”

The mural took Armijo more than three months to paint. He would spend eight hours a day every Friday, Saturday and Sunday working on his creation.

Armijo is touched by the support of friends and the community who laud the artist for his work.

“I work alone,” Armijo said. I come out here by myself on the weekends. It’s flattering when a passer by comes up and thanks me, but this is overwhelming.”

He calls painting his passion and wants his next mural to focus on Pueblo musicians.