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September 13, 2007
OAK RIDGE — They ate cake, but the memories were sweeter still.
Hundreds of government employees, some of whom worked here during the early days of the Atomic Energy Commission and witnessed momentous and monumental events, gathered Wednesday afternoon on the lawn of the Oak Ridge Federal Building.
The event commemorated the Department of Energy’s 60th anniversary in Oak Ridge, and there were dignitaries and VIPs on hand to read proclamations and do all the things that typically stamp an event as important. But the highlight for most people was just seeing old friends and co-workers, shaking hands and sharing hugs, remembering the good times or making light of the bad ones.
“I haven’t seen most of these good old folks in 20, 30 years,” said Joe Lenhard, DOE’s former research chief in Oak Ridge.
Jim Alexander, who retired in 1994 after working 30 years in the public affairs office, worked his way through the crowd and greeted as many people as possible.
“I can’t wait to shake Bob Hart’s hand,” he said, referring to his former boss, who was DOE’s Oak Ridge manager from 1971 to 1983.
The 85-year-old Hart was one of the speakers, and he was as energetic as ever. “I’m proud to be here. I’m proud to be anyplace at my age,” he said, drawing laughs from the crowd.
Whereas many DOE field operations have been shut down or downsized in the post-Cold War period, Oak Ridge has sustained a strong and diversified federal presence.
“This place could always stand on its record,” Hart said, “and it still can.”
U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., praised the employees who carried out important missions that contributed to the country’s well-being. He said DOE and its predecessors, the AEC and the Energy Research and Development Administration, always had a reputation for excellence, tenacity and patriotism in Oak Ridge.
“There’s a tradition here like no other,” Wamp said.
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