Memorial Day in Middlebury [PHOTO GALLERY]

Sgt. Liam Dwyer USMC stood up from the wheelchair and slowly walked up to the podium at Middlebury's Sunday, May 27, Memorial Day parade in front of the .

Dwyer was seriously wounded by an IED, or improvised explosive device, while serving in Afghanistan.

"A year ago, my family sat by my bedside [on] Memorial Day, still wondering if I was going to be able to make it," Dwyer said to the crowd. "My left leg missing, still wondering if we were going to be able to keep my right leg and right arm. And here I am a year later, up at this podium, limping around and getting around and saying 'thank you' to you all."

After the post-parade ceremony, people came up to Dwyer and shook his hand.

"See?" a father said to his daughter. "This is a real hero."

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