Thousands honor veterans in Avondale

People from all over Pueblo County went to Avondale Saturday to honor the veterans who defended their country. An Avondale veteran received one of the military’s highest honors.

Rudy Tafoya is an Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War. He received the Purple Heart for his actions during the war.

“During combat, we were in a little village; we went in and got ambushed. We just got hit badly. My other buddies, I didn’t know where they were, I didn’t know if they made it. I don’t know because I was cocking guns, putting in the ammo and the guy was firing. I was the only one who was left there. I was like, ‘Where is everyone at?’ I got down off the truck. I started going back, and saw the infantry around me and I was filling five choppers with dead guys,” he said.

Tafoya said it took sacrifice to get the medal.

“You don’t think about yourself, you think about all the other fallen soldiers,” he said.

The ceremony took place during the 12th annual Avondale, Boone and Pueblo County Veteran’s Parade. Many people were holding pictures and wearing shirts of veterans and even made floats of the people who sacrificed for their country.

Gloria Ortiviz had a shirt with her late father and other family members who were in the military on it.

“I have love for them, and the bravery that they went through and all the good things that they did for us,” she said.

Organizers of event said the parade always takes place on the first weekend of October and more than 1,000 people honored the veterans at the parade.