The Foreign Service Journal, May 2014

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MAY 2014 33 Members of the U.S. Foreign Service share moments from their careers. FOREIGN SERVICE STORIES What Makes Us Proud I n commemoration of the 90th anni- versary of the modern Foreign Service, AFSA has redoubled its efforts to deepen public understanding of diplomacy, development and foreign affairs, and to celebrate the accomplishments of the men and women from all corners of America who serve—and have served— in U.S. foreign affairs agencies. There’s no better way to do this than sharing the stories of the Foreign Service. And there is no one better able to tell those stories than our members, both active-duty and retired. AFSA asked members to send brief notes, 100 words or so, about the time when they were most proud to be part of the U.S. Foreign Service. Please enjoy this sampling of the great variety of stories we have received. —Shawn Dorman, Editor D O M I N I C A N R E P U B L I C “An Angel from the Embassy” By Corinna Ybarra Arnold Hometown: Brownsville, Texas In January 2010, I was in the Dominican Republic when the earthquake occurred in Haiti. Once we heard that people were going to be evacuated to Santo Domingo, my colleagues and I were deployed to an airport hangar to work with the military on a welcoming center for them. We worked all day to make the space comfortable and to get the evacuees essential items for their stay. I could not have been prouder to be a part of the Foreign Service when the first plane full of survivors came in late that evening. When one man I visited in the hospital after 2 a.m. said it was his wedding anniversary, I told him he should call his wife. He called and told her, “I am in the Dominican Republic, and an angel from the embassy just handed me her personal phone to call you.” It was an amazing moment. I will never forget that day and those we served. 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF AFSA AND THE FOREIGN SERVICE FOCUS