Debra Rodriguez started collecting Fiesta medals in 2005 after moving to San Antonio from the South Texas town of Alice.
Her boss at the time, a seasoned Fiesta reveler, was the person who introduced her to Fiesta medals, and she quickly embraced the San Antonio tradition. Making the yearly rounds of events like Fiesta Fiesta to collect medals brought Rodriguez closer to the community, and it became a way of bonding with her father.
Year after year, they hunted for medals, visiting local businesses, restaurants and events. Their plans during every Fiesta included attending the River Parade and Oyster Bake, showing off their collection of medals on sashes, lanyards or other garments.
“The most fun for me is hearing the clanking and the clanking as we walk,” said Rodriguez. “When you find us, you’re going to hear that clanking going on.”
Rodriguez also designs her own medals she shares with other collectors as a way of honoring her pets or family members.
This year’s medal hangs from a dark pink ribbon and features two yellow crosses with her parents’ initials. A crowned, red heart at the center casts rays of light surrounded by musical notes and flowers on a blue background. The message reads “La Familia es Para Siempre.“ It is a tribute to her late parents, Juanita Garcia Lozano and Amadeo Lozano Jr.
Nearly two decades and over 3,000 Fiesta medals later, Rodriguez has collected a wealth of memories from her years celebrating Fiesta with friends and family.
This article has been updated to correct the surname of Rodriguez’s mother.
