Colamonico was an Air Force veteran who was imprisoned in Austria after he was shot down, spending most of his months in prison in Stalag 17, which was immortalized in the “Stalag 17” movie. Colamonico was a top-turret gunner on a B-17 bomber, and the mission on which the plane was lost was his first. He was taken prisoner with seven other members of his crew; one other was killed, while two more escaped.
Family members say that Colamonico did not speak much about his wartime experiences. Laura Fanzilla, his daughter, said he'd told them he
“just came home, picked up his life and carried on.”
His widow Lorraine said her husband worked hard, but not on his own behalf.
“He cared greatly for the veterans.”
After he retired, Colamonico discussed his experiences in the war a bit more openly, and spent a great deal of time working with other veterans, particularly those at the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He was also one of the Huntington Town Veterans Advisory Board's charter members. Organizers of events such as this could use banner printing to create appropriate decorations for the ceremony.