The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2021

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2021 51 AFSA NEWS AFSA NEWS THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION Please check www.afsa.org for the most up-to-date information. All events are subject to cancellation or rescheduling. July 5 Independence Day: AFSA offices closed July 15 New AFSA Governing Board takes office July 15 1 p.m. Diplomats at Work— Working in the Arctic July 21 12-2 p.m. First meeting of the 2021-2023 Governing Board August 18 12-2 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting August 27 Deadline: Nominations for Sinclaire Language Awards September 6 Labor Day: AFSA offices closed CALENDAR In a somber Foreign Service Day memorial ceremony on May 7, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and AFSA State Vice President TomYaz- dgerdi unveiled the names of Foreign Service colleagues added to the AFSA memorial plaques in the State Depart- ment’s C Street lobby this year, honoring those who died in the line of duty. Because of the pandemic, Foreign Service Day, along with AFSA’s day of program- ming on May 6, were virtual this year. “Even during a pandemic, this is a special day,” Sec- retary Blinken said in a live feed on the State Depart- ment’s YouTube page (see bit.ly/blinken-afsa-plaques) . “It’s our homecoming. It’s a chance for retired Foreign and Civil Service members to come back, to see old friends, to get briefed on some of the leading issues of the day. “It’s a chance for us to honor outstanding public servants who have made remarkable contributions to the United States. And it’s a moment to remember with gratitude those who gave their lives in service of Ameri- can diplomacy.” He added that he looks forward to the day when the C Street lobby can be full of people again for Foreign Service Day. Honoring Service and Sacrifice “The original Foreign Service Day was first cel- ebrated by AFSA, DACOR and the Department of State Foreign Service Day Remembrances and Activities Continued on page 54 STATEDEPARTMENT in 1965 to honor the service and sacrifice of our Foreign Service and Foreign Service family members,”Yazdgerdi said in his introductory remarks. “But even before that, for more than 80 years, AFSA has had the privilege of honoring the now 320 fallen colleagues whose names are inscribed on these walls.” STATEDEPARTMENT Erin Nicholson, chair of the AFSA Committee on Elections, certifies the results of the 2021- 2023 Governing Board vote on June 10 at AFSA headquarters in Washington, D.C. While not yet reopened for public events, AFSA has had a “soft reopening” on June 1 after nearly 15 months of closure and full telework. We look forward to welcoming our members back to the building in the coming months. AFSA/ÁSGEIRSIGFÚSSON Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) and AFSA State Vice President TomYazdgerdi deliver remarks during the AFSAMemorial Ceremony on Foreign Service Day, May 7, in front of the memorial plaques in the State Department’s C Street lobby. AFSA SOFT REOPEN I NG