Huntington and Suffolk County officials, along with Veterans Advisory Board members, local veterans, family and friends will gather for a ceremony Saturday at 1 p.m., dedicating McKay Road as SSgt. USAF Michael J. Colamonico Way at the corner of McKay Road and Beau Lane in Huntington Station.
Colamonico served in the United States Air Force during World War II, and at the end of a 13-hour bombing run, a German Messerschmidt fighter plane shot down the B-17 bomber on which he was a top turret gunner, over France on Dec 31, 1943. He was held prisoner at the infamous Stalag 17 in Austria where he spent 17 months in captivity, and was finally liberated on May 3, 1945.
Colamonico dedicated his life to his family and veterans affairs issues as an advocate for active military and veterans. Colamonico was an original member of the Huntington Veterans Advisory Board, whose current members requested the street be dedicated in his name.