The Foreign Service Journal, December 2020

42 DECEMBER 2020 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL When a wounded and traumatized temporary duty (TDY) employee appeared at the embassy covered in blood and debris, Ms. McCoy jumped into action, helping her shower, getting her clean clothes and providing crucial emotional support. As the board president of the American Employee Recreation Association of Colombo, Ms. McCoy gathered supplies from AERAC to provide clothing and food to other victims who came to the embassy. And working with the Com- munity Liaison Office, she helped provide food for employees during the following week, as many worked night and day with no time to get meals. Numerous TDY employees were sent to the embassy in the weeks following the attacks. The majority came to help with security, and Ms. McCoy became the control officer for doz- ens of them. She prepared diplomatic notes to get them visas and equipment, made hotel reservations, provided supplies, prepared office space and met other needs as they arose. Her support did not go unrecognized, as a steady stream of visitors stopped by to drop off challenge coins, sweets, coffee and other tokens of gratitude for Ms. McCoy. “Being awarded this honor leaves me somewhat speech- less,” she tells the FSJ . “I am touched beyond measure that my U.S. Embassy Colombo team nominated me, and that AFSA has chosen me as the awardee.” Colleagues recognize her as an incredibly hard worker, an innovative thinker and a dedicated community servant with a constant desire to help others. She did such a good job as an OMS filling in temporarily for the Colombo front office that they ended up keeping her there for more than three months. As president of AERAC, Ms. McCoy helped establish numer- ous recreational events for the community. Her financial guid- ance helped the association build a sizable reserve fund. During a government shutdown, she set AERAC up to fund short-term loans for embassy employees. The loans ended up not being needed, but the excess reserve funds are now being used to install a children’s pool at the AERAC recreational facility. Ms. McCoy credits the AERAC team she worked with. “They are phenomenal, and it was my privilege to be the president of the board,” she tells the Journal . In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. McCoy proved herself again as she found ways to support the community, working with her team to ensure food supplies and essentials were always available. “I am so grateful to my family of colleagues in Colombo for their unwavering support and good humor despite some extremely challenging circumstances throughout the time of my tour,” Ms. McCoy says. “My RSO colleagues are among the best of the best, and it was my honor to work alongside them, as well Jenny McCoy with board and staff from the AERAC. From left to right: Sean Peterson, Saman Mandawalla, Michael Cragun, Kristen Perry, Kelly Peters, McCoy, Srimal Kariyanwasam, Firaz Mahamood and Antony Kanappilly. It really doesn’t matter where you are in the world; it’s the people you are with who make the difference. —Jenny McCoy