The Foreign Service Journal, September 2022

12 SEPTEMBER 2022 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL had a habit of stopping travelers and relieving them of all possessions except their underwear, at least as I recall reading the diplomatic and missionary records. Hope this helps. Michael Zirinsky Professor, Boise State University Boise, Idaho New England Retirees: An Update In response to John Naland’s piece ( “An Insider’s Guide to the Re-Employed Annuitant Program” ) in the May 2022 FSJ on the restarting of retiree association activities, I am pleased to report that the Foreign Affairs Retirees of New England (FARNE) is up and running. We’ve held two luncheon events since the pandemic started easing. Thanks to Maine volunteer Judith Fergin, in October we met at the Brunswick Hotel in Brunswick, Maine, to hear from retired Senior FSO Susan Thornton about U.S.-China relations. And in late April, we were in Salem, Massachusetts, at the historic Hawthorne Hotel for an address by retired Senior FSO John Dickson about his new book, History Shock: When History Collides with Foreign Relations (University Press of Kansas, 2021). Both events were very well attended, and we have since welcomed several new members who were at these lun- cheons. (Because of a rise in COVID-19 cases, the April meeting was postponed from January, and as a precaution we asked that all attendees at both meet- ings confirm their full vaccination sta- tus, which made most feel comfortable enough to engage without masks.) Our New Hampshire volunteer, Tom Hull, is now working on the next gather- ing, planned for his state in the fall. Since its founding in 1983, FARNE members have enjoyed the special collegial atmosphere and the well- informed discussions that take place at our luncheons. As John Naland noted, the regional retiree associations help us keep in touch with others of similar professional experience, as well as with our profession. AFSA was a major help in getting FARNE off the ground, and continues to provide assistance in getting the news of our events out to prospective members. Liz Barnett FSO, retired President, Foreign Affairs Retirees of New England Boston, Massachusetts Remembering Colin Powell I read Stacy Williams’ Letters-Plus in the April 2022 Foreign Service Journal ( “My Role Model, Guiding Light and North Star for 30 Years” ) with considerable emotion because the late Colin Powell was also my hero. When my late husband, Larry Foley, was murdered in Jordan in 2002, the then Secretary of State was one of the pillars of support who truly enabled me to keep my head above water. His was one of the many initial formal letters of condolence sent to our family, and he followed up with a personal phone call. I was bolstered by recognition of the contributions Larry made through his efforts in the Peace Corps and as executive officer with USAID. It was Colin Powell’s repre- sentative who met the plane when I returned with Larry’s body for autopsy and cremation. The fact that the U.S. Secretary of State not only cared what had happened to us but was also somewhere in the background offering support was a comfort to me. When Secretary Powell began his speech honoring Larry at the following Foreign Service Day, his first few words were so powerful that no one in our fam- ily heard the words that followed. We had to ask for a copy of the speech later. Colin Powell was not only a “model of a Servant-Leader” to his people, as America’s top diplomat he was also a warm and caring human being. While I was struggling with shock and grief after my husband’s murder, I felt the weight of the worldwide press focus and the potential political ramifications for Jordan whose geography, people and leaders we had learned to love. I tried to tread softly. It was the brief sen- tence Secretary Powell wrote on a photo of us together, taken on that Foreign Service Day— “Proud of you.”—that gave me hope and cour- age, knowing that I met his approval. Secretary Powell has been a hero to many people. I am one of them. Virginia Foley FS family member Guerneville, California “No One Was Listening” Author Responds When I agreed to have my letter published as the April 2022 Speaking Out column (“No One Was Listening: Russia, 1992”), I expected some rebut tal