BERTHOUD, Colo. — The town of Berthoud is remembering a soldier who lost his life in Afghanistan. Tuesday marked one year since Gabe Conde was shot and killed during small arms fire in Tagab, Afghanistan.
“Since October, it’s been a long, tedious process,” said Ryan Armagost, Commander of Berthoud VFW Post 12189.
He said he has been very busy over the last few months, preparing Tuesday's big moment.
“Today we had our institution and insulation of officers," he said. "We chartered the post for Berthoud VFW post 12189 Specialist Gabriel Conde Memorial.”
Berthoud chartered a new VFW Post that's, in part, named in remembrance of Conde.
Armagost was able to help recruit enough members to charter the post by April 30, the date Conde was killed.
“We were able to charter this post in memorial for Gabe on the one-year anniversary of his death, so while we are going to be mourning and honoring Gabe every year on this day, we will also be celebrating the birthday of our VFW,” said Armagost.
Armagost did not know Conde personally, but said he felt the need to carry on his legacy after he learned about Conde’s life.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 2015 after spending a year studying at the Colorado School of Mines, and had been assigned to the U.S. Army Alaska since April 2016. He enlisted after going to the Colorado School of Mines for a year.
He wore the maroon beret of the airborne infantryman and served in the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Alaska at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
Conde deployed with the brigade to Afghanistan in September 2017 in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel.
“His story and his service, his sacrifice is what we wanted to carry on,” Armagost said. “Let the community know, let outside of our community know what he has done and what he did for his country and the ultimate sacrifice that he made.”
The VFW members will meet at the Lions Club in Berthoud, the first Thursday of every month starting in June.
“We will be able to carry his name on forever,” Armagost said.
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