Lindenhurst High School Honors Veteran In Special Ceremony

LINDENHURST, NY - The Lindenhurst community recently gather to recognize one of their own who died at war over 50 years ago. A special ceremony was held to honor Robert Dorner, a graduate of the Lindenhurst High School Class of 1964 and well-loved equipment manager for the varsity football team.

Just weeks after graduating, Dorner joined the U.S. Marine Corp and was assigned to the supply company of the 3rd service Battalion in Da Nang. Less than two years later, Dorner was sadly killed on a resupply mission when he was hit by sniper fire.

Years later, his father, Henry Dorner, gave his son’s class football jacket to his childhood friend and neighbor Kevin Fowler. In September, Fowler brought the jacket back to Lindenhurst High School and left it in the care of security guard Bob Cropsey in hopes that the school would honor the memory of the fallen veteran and Lindenhurst alumnus.

After receiving the jacket, Cropsey organized the small ceremony at the high school where Dorner's varsity jacket was framed by the Lindenhurst Football Alumni Association.

During the event, the jacket was presented to members of the district’s administration including Superintendent of Schools Daniel E. Giordano, High School Principal Dr. Candice Brodie and Director of Health, Athletics and Physical Education Anthony Amesti. Also in attendance were members of the varsity football team, coaching staff and alumni association, members of the Lindenhurst High School Classes of 1964, 1965 and 1966, local Vietnam veterans, representatives of the local VFW, U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps and local politicians including Lindenhurst Mayor Michael Lavorata, Village Administrative Clerk Douglas Madlon and Assemblyman Kevin McCaffrey.

"We can learn from his experience lessons of bravery, determination and courage," Edward Curry, Lindenhurst High School student and editor of the school paper, wrote. "From a small-town boy to a lost memory in Lindenhurst’s history, Robert shall not be forgotten."