Watsonville Veterans Funeral Bugler Named Military Hero of the Year

The Red Cross of Santa Cruz County released its annual list of local heroes Tuesday morning, and the roster includes a patriotic musician from Watsonville.

Tony Rojas will be honored in the military category at the 2013 Heroes Breakfast on May 15 at the Cocoanut Grove Ballroom in Santa Cruz for recognizing fallen heroes that fought in five different wars.

According to the Red Cross, Rojas "has been playing bugle 'Taps' at numerous veterans’ funerals since he was 8-years-old and has played at the funerals of veterans from Iran, Vietnam, Korean, World War II and Word War I."

Other heroes being honored at the breakfast include:

• Lynne Achterberg of Santa Cruz — founder of cat advocacy group Project Purr
• Stephanie Raugust — created the Food Lab lunch program in Davenport
• Kevin Coch of Santa Cruz — saved his neighbor from her burning house
• Autumn and Simone Bushard of Ben Lomond — gathered $26,000 in organic food for disabled people, seniors and low income families
• Chuck and Susan Hawley of Santa Cruz — have been foster parents to more than 30 children
• Matt Ryan,  Scott Vahradian and Greg Vandervoort — created the Save a Student program
• Sheriff's Sgt. Patrick Dimick of Aptos — saved a 13-year-old girl and her mother from a brutal attack by the husband/father.
• Dispatcher Anna Kiff of Santa Cruz — calmed a person threatening to kill two small children
• David Kwan saved the life of a Dominican Hospital employee
• Coast Guard volunteer Milt Entwisle is in his 90s and has been keeping boats safe for more than 45 years.

The awards breakfast is set for May 15 at the Cocoanut Grove Ballroom in Santa Cruz from 7-9 a.m. The event has an 11-year history of recognizing acts of heroism by local residents and honoring those who have saved lives in our community.

Click here to purchase tickets to the event.