The Foreign Service Journal, June 2007

J UN E 2 0 0 7 / F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L 57 Staples, Acting USAID Director Jim Kunder, Commercial Service Director General IsraelHernandez, Ambassador Juri Luik of Estonia and Ambassador Pekka Lintu of Finland. Inhis opening remarks, Amb. Holmes said, “Every year during Foreign Affairs Day, it is customary topay tribute to those individuals who have lost their lives in diplomatic service to their country while serving overseas. These two plaques on either side of the lobby are a testament to the commitment and dedication of the men and women who chose to proudly advanceAmerica’s interests abroad and to promote its cherished values of freedom from tyranny, democracy and peace. However, these plaques also remind us of the profound sacrificemade by these indi- viduals and their familieswhile pursuing these goals. “The three individuals whomwe honor today are sep- arated by many years and the circumstances of their deaths were very different. However, they all ventured forth volun- tarily to serve their country, despite the risks andhardships inherent in the nature of the Foreign Service.” Margaret Alexander , a Foreign Service officer with USAID, was killed on Sept. 23, 2006, in a helicopter crash in Nepal. At the time of her death, she was serving as the deputy director of the USAID mission in Nepal, and had recently been confirmed as the new USAID mission director to theDemocratic Republic of theCongo. Ms. Alexanderwas returning from a ceremony marking the handover of a WorldWildlife Fund con- servation area to local control. Therewere no survivors among the 24 people on board, including severalNepali officials, the Finnish chargé d’affaires, aUSAIDForeign Service National serving as the environ- mental officer at the mission and several officials of the World Wildlife Fund. Doris G. Knittle served as a Foreign Service nurse in Kabul. She was found murdered in her home in August 1970. Through the efforts of many people who were at the embassy at that time — including Amb. Bruce Lain- gen, who was the deputy chief of mission, and Dr. John H. Baker, the chiefmedical officer who dis- covered her body, as well as a nurse practitioner recently sta- tioned inKabul,Ms. Elaine Leach —sufficient documentationwas obtained to determine that Ms. Knittle, was killed in the line of duty and thus should have her name inscribed on theMemorial Plaque. Her brother, Thomas Knittle, told AFSA News that he was shocked, and then thrilled, by the news that his sisterwouldbehonored in thisway, nearly 37 years later. HenryW.Antheil Jr. worked as a clerk in theU.S. legation inHelsinki andwas on TDY to the Tallinn legation as a diplomat- ic courier. He was removing sensitive materials fromthe office inTallinn on the same day that the Soviet blockade of Estoniawent into effect. Hewas onhisway back to Helsinki on a Finnish passenger planewhen it exploded inmid-air on June 14, 1940, minutes after take-off. All pas- sengers aboard the plane were killed. In his remarks, U/S Burns said, “This is a day to remember that we are on the front lines all over the world in 266 embassies and consulates, that we and the professional diplomatic corps accept the responsibility and the honor of serving our country, and we also accept the dangers that go along with that in an increasingly dangerous profession.” Later in the day, AFSAhosted a recep- tion for retirees and other Foreign Affairs Day guests. Amb.Holmes presentedmerit scholarship awards to the fivewinnerswho were at the ceremony: Jason Meer, Sarah Haviland, AndrewKeith, Paul Armstrong and Erica Wickman. Erica, the recipient of the art merit scholarship for her clar- inet performance, treated the AFSA guests to a piece. The scholarship donors who were present for the ceremony were John and Priscilla Becker; Giuseppa Spigler and her son Richard; Nancy Leary; AAFSW President Judy Felt; and DACOR Bacon House Foundation ExecutiveDirector RichardMcKee. Amb. Edward Dillery and Amb. Holmes con- ferred the awards. o A F S A N E W S Plaque Ceremony • Continued from page 53 Honoring those who died in the line of duty during the AFSA Memorial Plaque Ceremony. MIKKELA THOMPSON New names added to the AFSA Memorial Plaque. MIKKELA THOMPSON