Vale Oxford, SRNL government relations director, recalls military service and honors the fallen

Vale Oxford, director for government relations at Savannah River National Laboratory, opened the recorded remarks by identifying himself and recounting a long career in national security.

Oxford said he has "52 years in national security," described attending West Point and joining the military, and said he served at the White House during the government's response following the Sept. 11 attacks. He tied that experience to two personal memories that shaped his view of service: being sent to Dover Air Force Base to retrieve the body of a soldier who had served under him in Afghanistan, and visiting his parents at Arlington National Cemetery, where they are buried.

"For those reasons, I will never forget this," Oxford said, reflecting on the thousands of crosses at Arlington and the sacrifices of service members.

The remarks in the transcript were introductory and personal in nature; no formal actions, votes, or policy proposals were recorded in the provided segments.