WATCH: Gold Star Mother Jeanne Weaver Talks About Her Beloved Son, U.S. Army Ranger 1LT Todd W. Weaver
By Steve Wilson // May 27, 2024
Weaver created 21 oil paintings to honor his memory
WATCH: U.S. Army Ranger 1LT Todd W. Weaver, above right, who was killed in Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2010, is shown with his mom, Jeanne Weaver, at his rehearsal dinner the night before his wedding. The Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson talked with Jeanne on Memorial Day 2023, and she also spoke at the Memorial Day Ceremony held at Erdman Automotive on May 24 during the 2024 Memorial Day remembrance.
U.S. Army Ranger 1LT Todd Weaver, was killed September 9, 2010, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
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BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – On Memorial Day 2023, I had the privilege to talk with a very special lady, Jeanne Weaver.
Jeanne and her husband Donn Weaver are stalwarts in the Veteran Community. Their son, U.S. Army Ranger 1LT Todd Weaver, was killed September 9, 2010, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Todd was one of four children, and his loss was devastating, not only for the family, but also for friends.
After Todd’s death, Jeanne, an accomplished artist, closed her studio for a short while. But over time and after hearing wonderful comments about her son from various individuals, a thought came to her mind.
Jeanne told me, “As I listened to those words, or read those words, pictures began to form in my mind, and from those pictures came these 21 paintings in memory of Todd.”
After one year of hard work and plenty of tears, 21 beautiful oil paintings were created to honor her son’s memory. Jeanne said, “Soon after Todd was killed, I had to nurture his memory in the same way that I nurtured his life.”
The paintings have been shown at the state capital in Tallahassee and the Porcher House in Cocoa.
Jeanne told me, “My plan is to give them to the special collections unit at The College of William and Mary (Todd’s Alma Mater) in 2025 after a big showing there.” At that time, it will have been 15 years since Todd was killed.
She went on to say that the paintings can be made available for viewing at the appropriate venue.
Jeanne has also written a book, complete with images of the oil paintings, and information about Todd, entitled, “Losing Todd: Finding Peace in My Heart.”
During his first semester in college, Todd joined the National Guard. Soon after, he was called to active duty, and with orders, found himself in Mosul, Iraq.
Todd eventually returned to the states and continued his education. He attended The College of William and Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia, and became commander of his ROTC unit.
He was a brilliant student, graduating in 2008 from William and Mary, Phi Beta Kappa, and summa cum laude. Todd was also an outstanding athlete and could do anything he set his mind to.
After graduating from college, Todd was inducted into the Army as an officer. He ultimately joined the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was assigned by the Brigade Commander as Platoon Leader in the 1st of the 320th Artillery Regiment of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
Todd was mortally wounded on September 9, 2010, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device (IED). His actions saved the lives of multiple individuals. U.S. Army Ranger 1LT Todd Weaver was only 26 years old when he died.
Captain Drew Shaffer, Company Commander, wrote the following on September 25, 2010, in Afghanistan:
“It was a terrible shock to the battery to lose Todd. He Had done so much in such a short period. TG6 (LTD David Flynn) and the Chaplain came out that morning.
In the discussion, as downtrodden as the mood was, one connecting piece came through. Todd would not have quit. He would not have settled. He would continue to conduct operations to destroy the enemy, protect the people, and keep our Soldiers safe.
He had already imparted the ‘intestinal fortitude to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission though I be the lone survivor.’ Todd was a Ranger, and he truly led the way.”
WATCH: The 2024 Memorial Day Ceremony held at Erdman Automotive. Speakers include; Jeanne Weaver, Gold Star Mom, Christine Tate, Space Coast Honor Flight; Garren Cone, AVET Project; and CDR Sarah Brennan, U.S. Coast Guard.
Jeanne recently spoke at the Memorial Day Ceremony held at Erdman Automotive on May 24, 2024. She said, “This loss was not about me, it was all about Todd;” he “lived a full life in those 26 years.”
She finished with a comment attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson, saying, “It is not length, but depth of life.”
U.S. Army Ranger 1LT Todd W. Weaver is a true American hero. We should thank 1LT Weaver, and all brave American heroes, that have made the Ultimate Sacrifice. They should be appreciated, not only on Memorial Day, but every day.
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey.
Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 24 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
