Director General Marcia S. Bernicat will lead the Department of State’s 59th annual Foreign Affairs Day, commemorating the centennial anniversary of the Foreign Service. The event, scheduled for May 3, will gather current and former employees of the Department of State and other Foreign Affairs Agencies at the Dean Acheson Auditorium.
In a pre-recorded video message, Secretary of State Antony Blinken will address the morning plenary opening of Foreign Affairs Day. Deputy Secretary Richard Verma will deliver the Keynote Address at the event's opening session and participate in the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) Memorial Plaque Ceremony to honor fallen diplomats.
"The AFSA Memorial Plaque Ceremony honors those who have lost their lives while serving overseas due to circumstances distinctive to the Foreign Service, including acts of violence or terrorism," said AFSA President Tom Yazdgerdi, who will preside over the ceremony alongside Deputy Secretary Verma.
The ceremony, open to the press, will take place at the C Street Lobby at 10:30 a.m. ET, with preset time for video cameras at 10:00 a.m. and final access for writers and photographers at 10:15 a.m. The opening plenary session, plaque ceremony, and a centennial-themed panel discussion will be live-streamed on the Department's homepage and YouTube Channel.
Media personnel wishing to cover the event must present valid identification, including a U.S. Government-issued ID or a media-issued photo ID, or a letter from their employer on letterhead along with an official photo ID. For further details, contact Nikki Gamer of the American Foreign Service Association at gamer@afsa.org.
