DOE’s Oak Ridge Office to host Veteran’s Day program Nov. 8

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. -- The public is invited to join federal employees, contractors, and veterans of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in recognizing our nation’s veterans on November 8, at 10 a.m. at the American Museum of Science and Energy on 200 South Tulane Avenue, in Oak Ridge. The program entitled, “Our Forgotten Heroes,” pays tribute to those who served and died in Vietnam. 

The featured speaker is Freddie J. Owens,  twice combat-wounded Vietnam veteran and survivor of the 1962 Ia Drang Valley battle, the first major battle between the U.S. Army and the North Vietnam Army. Mr. Owens will speak on his experiences while serving in Vietnam as a squad leader with the 1^st Calvary Division (Air Assault). Mr. Owens’s military decorations include the Combat Infantry Badge, Air-Assault Badge w/Star Cluster, Bronze Star w/Valor Device, Purple Heart w/Cluster, Air Medal w/Combat Cluster, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) Gallantry Cross, and Army Commendation medal.

More than 90 years ago, Armistice Day was founded to recognize the sacrifices made by the veterans of World War 1. November 11 was the day chosen for celebration and remembrance to coincide with the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month – November 11, 1918 when the armistice was signed, ending the War. Over 48 million veterans have served our country since its birth in 1776, and almost half are still alive today; 1 of every 10 people in our country is a veteran.

For more information concerning ORO’s Veteran’s Support Group program, please contact Ballard Jackson, DOE Oak Ridge Office at (865) 241-6137 or jacksonba@oro.doe.gov.

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