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The Price of War

Arriving at the Cam Ranh Bay airport in 1968 was an exciting moment for Captain Linda Sharp. She would be returning home in time for Christmas, but her mood shifted as she boarded the C-141 military plane. She sat in a jump seat while facing racks loaded from top to bottom with caskets of American servicemen. It was a sobering reminder of the price of war. Today, Linda Sharp Caldwell lives in Aiken, South Carolina with her husband Brent, but she grew up around the country as a military “brat.” Her father was a career Air Force officer who served in World War II. When asked how she ended up

The Ripple Effect of Love

This is a love story that feels like a movie script set in the 1950s. A tall, handsome stranger walks into a Michigan pharmacy with a prescription for his mother. He spies a woman behind the back counter, the most beautiful redhead he has ever seen. The woman is Virginia “Ginny” Hersz. She graduated from college in 1955 with a degree in pharmacy. At the time, less than 5% of the nation’s pharmacists were female, but Ginny was fearless and ready to take on any challenge. When she sees the handsome stranger, she is definitely intrigued. The man is Gary Albrecht. He was drafted into the United States Army at

Beyond the Barricade | SRS Ties That Shaped Our Community | Happy Birthday SRS!

This grand lady celebrates her 70th birthday on November 28, 2020. On this date in 1950, President Harry Truman authorized the design, construction, and operation of what was known at the time as the Savannah River Plant. Over the years, the name changed to the Savannah River Site (SRS) but its primary purpose, to keep our nation safe, has never wavered. The brilliance of the early SRS pioneers, who designed and built the facilities that make up SRS, can’t be overstated. With decades of work accomplished within the walls of the early reactors and canyons, these buildings continue to serve our nation. Today, the Site plays a vital role in

Beyond the Barricade | SRS Ties That Shaped Our Community | October 2020

Although she was only three years old, Barbara Smoak clearly remembers attending a party for her maternal grandfather’s retirement from Dupont in 1960. As a reminder of her family’s legacy at the Savannah River Site (SRS), she keeps a copy of the letter Leslie Albert Doty wrote to his employees in the Power Department at SRS. He said, “My final appeal is: accept your personal safety, and that of every human being, as the noblest of all duty.” His expectation for safety was one he made clear to his entire family, and it has been a continuing part of the legacy of three generations of this family’s service to SRS.

Join us for the SRS70 Exhibit

Bring your mask and join us for a COVID friendly Gallery Opening Reception on Thursday, September 10 from 6 – 8 pm The Aiken Center for the Arts is proud to host an extraordinary exhibit showcasing past and present scenes from SRS as part of its 70th year celebration. The impact of SRS on our community over the last 70 years can’t be overstated. Prior to President Truman’s announcement of the site’s selection as part of a national defense complex, Aiken was best known as an agricultural community and a favorite retreat for wealthy 19th century equestrians. While they had stately homes known as the Winter Colony, their cultural impact

Beyond the Barricade – Lisa Fountain

There are three traits that clearly define Lisa Fountain: devotion to her family, commitment to her job, and a pure passion for performing. Lisa is a Savannah River Site (SRS) baby. While she was born in Lafayette, Tennessee, she arrived in Aiken when she was 10 days old. Her father had accepted a position at the Savannah River Plant in 1962, and his family joined him as soon as Lisa’s mother could travel. Lisa has lived in Aiken County ever since. Her career at SRS began as a janitor in 1986. As she explains, “I got hired into the labor force and was assigned to mop floors in the Tritium

Beyond the Barricade | SRS ties that shaped our community | Part 8

Over 40 million dollars … thousands upon thousands of service hours … lives touched … countless lives. This is the story of a vital community partnership. This is the story of the men and women of the Savannah River Site (SRS), who have clearly demonstrated their care for those in need in Aiken County over the last 68 years. Originally known as the Aiken Community Chest, the United Way of Aiken County recognizes its primary founder as the late Senator Strom Thurmond. He approached the SRS leadership in 1952 and they were happy to rally employees to donate over $50,000. Each year, the annual donation has grown, and today over

Rotary Club of Aiken Awards $105,000 in College Scholarships

This has been a year unlike any other, but the Rotary Club of Aiken has made it a very special one for twenty-one high school seniors in Aiken, SC. Foregoing our traditional luncheon celebration due to COVID 19 restrictions, the squeals of shock and delight heard during the notification phone calls to these deserving students were evidence that the $5000 college scholarship each were awarded is a game changer for most of them. The Rotary Club of Aiken Scholarship Committee carefully considered approximately 120 applicants. While grades were considered, it was not the major driver for a scholarship determination. Students were evaluated on their extracurricular activities, their volunteer efforts, the

Beyond the Barricade | SRS Ties That Shaped Our Community | Part 7

When Tambra Wilkerson graduated with a degree in electronic engineering, she never imagined she would start a nonprofit and don boxing gloves on a regular basis in Aiken, South Carolina. It is plain and simple — Tambra Wilkerson is a fighter. Although she came to the area to support an important Savannah River Site (SRS) mission, she realized a calling in her heart to help others in a unique way. Now, she spends her days fighting to improve the lives of individuals who have a debilitating disease such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, or multiple sclerosis, and the results of her program have garnered attention. Individuals who are living with these diseases,

Beyond the Barricade | SRS Ties That Shaped Our Community | Part 3

While some women would be put off if they learned that the man they had been dating for three weeks had fibbed about his last name, Peggy Ford just took his prank in stride. Four years after they met, she became Mrs. Rick Ford in lieu of being Mrs. Rick Chevrolet and his dry wit has been making her laugh ever since. Rick grew up in the Washington DC area and Peggy is a native Virginian. He was a literature major at the University of Richmond and she majored in social work at Longwood College. They started their family in Virginia and were expecting to stay there until Rick came

Lyddie Hansen

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