Secretary Blinken, Deputy Secretary Verma, and Director General Bernicat to Deliver Remarks at Foreign Affairs Day Celebration

Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Global Talent Marcia S. Bernicat will host and deliver remarks at the Department of State’s 59^th annual Foreign Affairs Day.  This year, the event will also celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Foreign Service.  This event is for active and retired employees of the Department of State and other Foreign Affairs Agencies and will be hosted on Friday, May 3, starting at 9:15 a.m. in the Dean Acheson Auditorium at the Department of State.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will deliver pre-recorded remarks via video at the morning plenary opening of Foreign Affairs Day.

Deputy Secretary Richard Verma will deliver the Keynote Address at the Foreign Affairs Day opening plenary session in the Dean Acheson Auditorium and give remarks at the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) Memorial Plaque Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. ET in the C Street Lobby.

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.  AFSA President Tom Yazdgerdi will preside over the ceremony and deliver welcoming remarks.  Deputy Secretary Verma will also pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country around the world.

The AFSA Memorial Plaque Ceremony is open to the press.  Preset time for video cameras is 10:00 a.m. from the 23^rd Street Entrance.  Final access for writers and still photographers is 10:15 a.m. from the 23^rd Street Entrance.

The opening plenary session (9:15 a.m.-10:15 a.m. ET), the plaque ceremony (10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.),and the centennial-themed panel (11:30 a.m.-12:30 a.m.) will be streamed live on the Department homepage  and YouTube Channel.

Media representatives may cover the Memorial Plaque Ceremony upon presentation of one of the following: (1) A U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver’s license, passport).

For more information, contact Nikki Gamer of the American Foreign Service Association at gamer@afsa.org.