This Is Why The Man in the Cowboy Hat Wears a Cowboy Hat
Carlos Arredondo was going to give the hat he wore on the day of the bombings to a friend. The friend “wasn’t a hat guy.’’
Carlos Arredondo is recognized for his heroism following the Boston Marathon bombings. He’s also recognized for his headgear. But how did the cowboy hat become synonymous with his name?
“I grew up in Costa Rica watching the movies—you know, the cowboy movies,’’ said Arredondo. “I’ve always been in pictures with cowboy hats from when I was very little.’’
Arredondo also said that Costa Rica’s Spanish tradition and a love of horses also influenced his sartorial decisions.
“Coming from a country where, you know, it’s a lot of cows, a lot of farming, more people there are wearing cowboy hats,’’ he said. “We need shade from the sun.’’
Arredondo’s hat collection is vast, though he doesn’t know exactly how many he has. “It got to a point where people started giving me them,’’ he said. “Anytime someone thinks, ‘What should I get Carlos?’ They think, ‘A cowboy hat.’’’
That’s the thought that came to country music star Trace Atkins.
“We were at his concert, and he saw me wearing one, and he gave it to my mom. It’s a black hat,’’ said Arredondo.
His wife Mel said that Carlos’ mother resembles him very closely, but at about 4’11’’, she’s very small.
“I mean she has a smaller head,’’ Mel said. “It covered her head completely. So she gave it to Carlos.’’
Carlos’ mother also gave him the hat he was wearing on the day of the bombings.
“She sent it from Costa Rica,’’ said Mel. “He was going to give it to a friend. It had a lasso around it that said ‘Costa Rica.’ He gave it to his friend, and the friend said, ‘I’m not a hat guy.’ So he gave it back.’’
Carlos is definitely a hat guy.
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