We are all deeply saddened by the loss of our good friend, Tom Colones, who passed away suddenly. Tom meant so much to so many people. Tom was an outstanding photojournalist for WSPA in Spartanburg, South Carolina for over 44 years. His dad served in World War II as a Marine in the Pacific and Tom was also a veteran himself.
Each year, The “Mayor of Normandy” as so many called him, would return to Normandy to honor his D-Day and World War II heroes and remember their sacrifice. He would spend two weeks attending ceremonies, memorials, and events and always brought along his film camera to help out The World War II Foundation so many times in making the Foundation’s films. Things always came alive when Tom came to an event in Normandy, camera in hand. He would always stop by, say hello, and then was off to the next event or memorial ceremony in some small village in that part of France and while doing so made hundreds of friends in the process.
We are honoring Tom’s memory by establishing a scholarship in his name to send a deserving student to Normandy each year accompanied by a parent to experience the D-Day anniversary and get an appreciation of what made Normandy such an important part of Tom’s life. We know preserving his legacy in this way would make him show that classic TC scowl, yet he would also be characteristically humble in saying he didn’t deserve it. Well, he does. Not seeing the “Mayor of Normandy” each year in France in June is going to be difficult and leave a huge void in all of our lives.
We hope you will make a tax-deductible donation in the name of the Tom Colones Memorial Scholarship Fund to bring this goal to fruition beginning in 2021.
DONATIONS:
Please indicate in the Add a Note/Memo section of your online donation “TC Fund.” You can also send us an email to let us know you donated online and perhaps share a favorite TC story: sheila@wwiifoundation.org.
We will keep you updated on our progress as we honor the legacy of our dear friend “Mayor” Tom Colones and help to ensure that his legacy lives on in today’s younger generation. Thank you.
