Foreign Service Day Draws 352 Attendees
Foreign Service Day Honorees
State Observes 2nd Annual Civil Service Day
State Members Honored
President Clinton's Foreign Service Day Message

On this 33rd annual celebration of Foreign Service Day, I am delighted to extend warm greetings to the men and women of the United States Foreign Service. We set aside this day each year to recognize the enormous contributions made by our diplomatic workforce, both domestic and overseas.

The importance of representing our nation and its interests throughout the world continues to grow with each passing decade. As I have traveled the globe, I have become increasingly convinced that the qualities of life we cherish--peace, freedom and individual prosperity--must be our goal for all the peoples of the world if we are to ensure our continued well-being. An effective Foreign Service remains vital to meeting this challenge, and I thank each of you for your hard work, loyalty and commitment to excellence in your demanding profession.

It is a mark of the intense dedication of our foreign affairs personnel that, on Foreign Service Day each year, hundreds of retirees devote the day to reacquainting themselves with current foreign policy issues through a series of seminars and plenary sessions conducted at the State Department. They also gather at the AFSA memorial plaque to pay tribute to those heroes of the Foreign Service who died while serving our country abroad. This year we honor Leslianne Shedd, who perished in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 on Nov. 23, 1996, after the aircraft had been hijacked. From the survivors' accounts, we know of her calmness and courage and of her compassion toward the other passengers during the flight's final descent. Leslianne leaves a legacy of dedication to her country that has always been the hallmark of the Foreign Service, and I join you in expressing sincere condolences to her family and friends.

I also extend my deepest appreciation to all Foreign Service professionals and their families who support America's values worldwide, whether through diplomacy, economic or military aid programs, public affairs or any of the other myriad activities so important to the continued success of our foreign policy. On behalf of a grateful nation, I commend and thank you, the Foreign Service of the United States of America.

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