The Department of State will commemorate Foreign Affairs Day on Friday, May 5, marking the 58th anniversary of this annual celebration to honor the service of U.S. foreign affairs professionals at home and abroad. On Foreign Affairs Day, we celebrate the domestic and overseas employees, and colleagues from all U.S. Foreign Affairs agencies for their dedicated service and honor the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States.
On May 4, U.S. Embassy Copenhagen personnel gathered for a moment of silence to mark Foreign Affairs Day and to honor our fallen Foreign Service colleagues. Chargé d’Affaires Jennifer Hall Godfrey delivered brief remarks to members of the Embassy team assembled for the event, recognizing the sacrifice our colleagues throughout the Foreign Affairs community have made in service to the United States. “Most of us know individuals who have died while fulfilling their jobs. For me that includes personnel from the Department of State, USAID, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Department of Defense who have been killed by terrorists and criminals, or in conflict zones,” she shared.
Chargé Hall Godfrey also made special mention of our fallen Locally Employed Staff, who she noted had “made the choice to work for the United States, generally out of patriotism for their own countries and the belief that partnership with the United States was important.”
This year’s American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) Memorial Ceremony at the State Department, part of the Foreign Affairs Day event, will honor 321 Foreign Service officers who died in the line of duty since 2019 — the last year the Department held a ceremony prior to the COVID pandemic — and includes those who passed away from COVID during their overseas service.
“Whatever the circumstances of their deaths, our colleagues who died performing their jobs demonstrated dedication, service, and bravery — characteristics that we all strive toward,” said Chargé Hall Godfrey in closing.
Please visit www.state.gov for more on the Department of State Foreign Affairs Day event, including links to remarks by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and AFSA President Eric Rubin.
Remarks by Chargé d’Affaires Jennifer Hall Godfrey
U.S. Embassy Foreign Affairs Day Event
May 4, 2023
Copenhagen, Denmark
[As prepared for delivery]
Thank you for gathering today to take a few minutes to reflect on our colleagues throughout the foreign affairs community who have lost their lives in service to the United States.
Most of us know individuals who have died while fulfilling their jobs. For me that includes personnel from the Department of State, USAID, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Department of Defense who have been killed by terrorists and criminals, or in conflict zones. It includes Locally Employed Staff who have been killed by violence and in car accidents – Locally Employed Staff who made the choice to work for the United States, generally out of patriotism to their own countries and the belief that partnership with the United States is important.
And it includes colleagues who passed away from COVID contracted while they continued to come into work to do their jobs. This year’s ceremony at the State Department will honor 321 Foreign Service officers who died in the line of duty since 2019, the last year the Department held a ceremony prior to the pandemic. The number is large because it rightfully includes colleagues who passed away from COVID during that period.
Whatever the circumstances of their deaths, our colleagues who died performing their jobs demonstrated dedication, service, and bravery – characteristics that we all strive toward. Please join me now for a minute of silence to remember those we have known and lost, and to honor their lives and sacrifices.
Thank you.