Honoring vets in the land of the free because of the brave

Maj. Louis Dorfman III could not have anticipated the response he received during Dale City’s annual Fourth of July parade last Saturday.
The 52-year old soldier, who has been in the Army for 33 years, donned his dress uniform to participate in the festivities, riding in a car with fellow members of American Legion Post 364 in Woodbridge.
The Legionnaires were tossing candy out to the crowd when Dorfman noticed a young girl who hadn’t managed to catch any of the sweet treats.
Dorfman got out of the vehicle and made his way to the youngster, handing her some candy, to the delight of parade goers who immediately began cheering him and thanking him for his service.
Those cheers soon spread, and he opted to walk the rest of the parade route. What made that walk remarkable is that Dorfman is a wounded warrior recovering from injuries he received in Iraq a little more than 18 months ago.
On Nov. 22, 2007, Dorfman was serving as a civil affairs officer in Baghdad’s International Zone when 26 110 mm mortars fell on his location.
“I was thrown by one of the explosions and received a traumatic brain injury, concussion injury, two torn ligaments in my right arm, a fragmented disk in my back and hearing loss,” he explained.
Today, Dorfman is assigned to the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Belvoir.
“My day is filled with medical appointments at DeWitt Army Community Hospital and Walter Reed Army Hospital,” he said. “As soon as my medical conditions get better, I will start looking for a position in the federal government.”
Dorfman enlisted as a private on Jan. 2, 1976 and was a staff sergeant when he was selected to go to Officers Candidates School. He received his commission as a second lieutenant on July 10, 1988. He and his wife Marie have three children, Robert and Sarah Dorfman, and Casey Shingler. Dorfman has been a member of American Legion Post 364 for 29 years. He is also a member of VFW Post 1503 in Dale City.
Following the parade, Dorfman was on hand as Post 364 hosted a Blue Star Banner Salute to America’s heroes, where other wounded warriors and Blue Star families were special guests.
“I received a warm welcome that was one of the most humbling experiences of my life,” he said. “American Legion Post 364 had an excellent ceremony after the parade to honor wounded vets and Blue Star Mothers.”
Blue Star Mothers are mothers who have a son or daughter serving in the armed forces. The event also recognized Gold Star Mothers who have lost a loved one serving in the armed forces.