The Embassy marks Foreign Affairs Day

The State Department commemorates Foreign Affairs Day on Friday, May 5, marking the 58th anniversary of this annual celebration to honor the service of US foreign policy officials at home and abroad. On Foreign Affairs Day, we celebrate the domestic and foreign employees and colleagues of all U.S. foreign agencies for their dedicated service and honor the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States.

On May 4th, staff at the US Embassy in Copenhagen gathered for a minute’s silence to mark Foreign Policy Day and honor our fallen field colleagues. Chargé d’Affaires Jennifer Hall Godfrey made brief remarks to Embassy team members gathered for the event, recognizing the sacrifice made by our colleagues throughout the foreign affairs community in serving the United States. “Most of us know people who have died doing their jobs. For me, that includes State Department, USAID, Central Intelligence Agency and Department of Defense personnel killed by terrorists and criminals or in conflict zones,” she said.

Chargé Hall Godfrey also made special mention of our fallen local employees, who she says “made the decision to work for the United States generally out of patriotism for their own countries and a belief that a partnership with the United States is 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 have died in the line of duty since 2019 — the last year the department held a Ceremony held due to the COVID pandemic – and includes those who have died from COVID while serving abroad.

“Regardless of the circumstances of their deaths, our colleagues who have died doing their jobs have shown dedication, service and bravery – qualities we all aspire to,” concluded Chargé Hall Godfrey.

Please visit www.state.gov for more information on State Department Day, including links to remarks by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and AFSA President Eric Rubin.