WILLIAMSBURG, USA — First Lieutenant Todd Weaver was only 26 when he was killed in Afghanistan, but he had already seen the world. reports WTKR news
“Todd after all had been in over 30 countries and lived in 5,” said his father Donn Weaver.
One of those was for a study abroad trip he made his senior year as a student at William and Mary
“He didn’t choose Paris or the beautiful places or the easy places. He chose St. Petersburg, Russia,” said Donn.
The trip holds special memories for Todd’s widow, Emma; Todd proposed when she came to visit him.
Together they have a little girl, Kiley, who is 15 months old.
Emma says they’re taken care of, so now they want to focus on making sure that Todd’s legacy lives on.
They’re raising money for the 1st Lt. Todd W. Weaver Memorial Award – it will pay for a semester abroad for a student who, like Todd, plans to serve the country in some way.
“To be able to have the opportunity for other students to travel abroad, knowing what Todd gave up to be able to do that and how important it was, it’s extremely important,” said Emma Weaver.
The family has to raise $50,000 within one year to endow the fund.
It’s a big goal, but they’re getting some help.
The Student Athletic Advisory Council created wristbands to sell for $3 each – all of the profits go to Todd’s memorial fund.
“We did a lot of research on him and he was just a great guy, great all around person. He really embodied what the true William and Mary student is like,” said Brandon Heroux, a student on the advisory council.
They’re white with green lettering and read “One Tribe. One family.”
The SAAC originally ordered 4,000 to sell at this weekend’s football game but already pre-sold more than a thousand of those.
“Because of how popular they’ve been, before they’ve even gotten here we’ve ordered another 5,000 bands that will be here next week,” said SAAC president Max Sabert.
Helping Todd’s legacy live on.
“Because there again, people have something that, ‘why am I wearing this wristband?’ That was that young Lt. that died in Afghanistan that tried to keep this country free and free of terrorists,” said Donn Weaver.
Contributions and pledges for the memorial fund can be made payable to:
The College of William and Mary
MEMO: 1LT Todd W. Weaver Mem Award
The College of William and Mary Foundation
PO Box 1693
Williamsburg, VA 23187-1693
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