THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY AUGUST 2024 55 AFSA NEWS AFSA Hosts 50th Memorial Plaque Ceremony Each year in May, as part of its Foreign Service Day commemoration, AFSA hosts a memorial plaque ceremony at the Department of State’s C Street lobby to honor those members of the Foreign Service who lost their lives in service overseas. This year marked the 50th anniversary of the ceremony, a tradition inaugurated by former AFSA President Tom Boyatt in 1974. AFSA has been the steward of these plaques since they were first unveiled in 1933. Thankfully, no new names were added to the plaques this year. AFSA President Tom Yazdgerdi presided over this year’s ceremony and delivered welcoming remarks. “As we reflect on the names on these pillars, we are reminded of the immense sacrifices made by our fallen colleagues—the Foreign Service members who answered the call of duty with courage and commitDeputy Secretary Richard Verma delivers remarks in front of the memorial plaques. AFSA/JOAQUIN SOSA U.S. Ambassador Michael J. Adler leads the moment of silence at U.S. Embassy Juba in South Sudan. U.S. EMBASSY JUBA ment. They ventured into the unknown, often in perilous circumstances, to promote America’s interests and values. Their devotion to duty exemplifies the very best of what America has to offer the world,” Yazdgerdi said. The audience stood as Yazdgerdi welcomed the United States Armed Services Color Guard to present the colors. All attendees bowed their heads to observe a 20-second moment of silence, joining their colleagues in U.S. Continued on page 56 The moment of silence at U.S. Embassy Prague. U.S. EMBASSY PRAGUE embassies and consulates around the world. Following his delivery of the keynote address at the State Department’s Foreign Affairs Day ceremony in the Dean Acheson Auditorium,
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