Local Heroes: Michael Daniel Foley Defended America All His Life

BURKE, VA — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented and changing times.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. We’re working to let all your neighbors know about these outstanding people and their stories.

This submission comes from Corazon Sandoval Foley, who nominated Michael Daniel Foley of Burke. Foley, who died in April, served in Vietnam, worked for the CIA and volunteered in the Burke area upon his retirement.

Local hero’s full name

Michael Daniel Foley

Local hero’s home state

Virginia

Local hero’s Patch

Burke

How do you know the local hero?

My husband (he died on April 12, 2022)

What does the local hero do?

Defended America all his life — served as Vietnam Veteran, American Diplomat, American CIA Senior Manager — in retirement worked with me, his wife Corazon Sandoval Foley, in founding in 2007 the Burke/West Springfield Senior Center Without Walls (aka Foley Community Center Project). I am working to get the leased space named in honor of American Patriotism with Vietnam Veteran Michael Daniel Foley, who kept faith with his family of American Patriots who defended America since the founding of the American Republic. Ancestor fought in the 1777 Battle of Saratoga, grandfather WWI, father WWII and Michael Daniel Foley in Vietnam. Please Support Foley Community Center Project.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the local hero?

Michael Daniel Foley was Quintessentially American — proud of our American Democracy, Principled, Loyal and Smart. He served in Quang Tri, which was heavily sprayed with Agent Orange and since it was on the border near the DMZ, Mike contracted bubonic plague and was in the terminal ward (he survived thanks to God) and then continued serving America with the US State Department, the CIA and in retirement with our Burke hometown that our whole family loves.

Thank you for all you do, Michael Daniel Foley!

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Know someone making a difference in town?

Nominate them here.