The Foreign Service Journal, September 2010

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 7 not have conceived of individuals so driven by ideology that they would be- come the unscrupulous suicide bomb- ers of the 21st century. But those who knewMary as boss or mentor will never doubt (or forget) that she was a good and faithful public servant and a leader for the Foreign Service officers and staff of the Bureau of Consular Affairs and the thousands of local employees around the world who worked for her. David Rabadan Consular FSO, retired Annandale, Va. Try Visas Your June issue was so hard to put down that I’d give it an “M” for “mag- nificent.” I especially commend your focus on the relationship between con- sular work and public diplomacy. As a young visa officer in Trinidad, I’d hitch a ride on the U.S. Information Service jeep with a Foreign Service Na- tional driver to go up the traces and deep into the mountains to show a film about President John F. Kennedy and commune with the elders and people of the various villages. Many would ask, “When is Pres. Kennedy coming?” On one occasion somebody added, “If he can’t come, how about Frank Sinatra?” Long ago, yes, but as a result of that experience I’m still glad to say to one and all, “Put fun in your life; try visas!” Lou Riggio FSO, retired Hollywood, Fla. OMS: Force Multipliers Susan Johnson’s June “President’s Views” column on the importance of Office Management Specialists partic- ularly pleased me for two reasons. Our family’s Delavan Foundation funds the annual AFSA performance award for L E T T E R S