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- 10/21/08: Remarks by Henrietta Fore, Administrator, USAID and Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance at the White House Development Summit
- 10/08/08: Remarks by Henrietta Fore, USAID Administrator and Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance at The President's Freedom Agenda
- 10/01/08: Remarks by Henrietta H. Fore, Administrator, USAID and Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance, at the Ceremony Marking the Full Operational Capacity of Africa Command (AFRICOM)
- 09/25/08: Remarks by Henrietta H. Fore, Administrator, USAID and Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance, at 2008 Millennium Development Goal Malaria Summit, New York - "U.S. Leadership in the Fight Against Malaria"
- 09/22/08: Remarks by Henrietta H. Fore, Administrator, USAID and Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance, at the White House Symposium on Advancing Global Literacy - "U.S. Commitment to Advancing Global Literacy"
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Remarks by Henrietta H. Fore
Acting Director of Foreign Assistance and Acting USAID Administrator
USAID Memorial Service
Washington, DC
August 14, 2007
Thank you Ambassador Jordan. Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for joining us on this solemn occasion.
I want to thank Acting Director General and Ambassador Heather Hodges, Mrs. Margaret Grainger-Herzlich, Mr. Andrew Calhoun Kavanagh, and all of our Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) from USAID/Haiti, including Ms. Masse, Mr. Doucoure, and Ms. Quattar-Ayanou, for being here. I would also like to thank USAID AFSA Vice President Francisco Zamora, AFSA Representative Michael Henning, and AFGE President Willy Hardin for joining us.
Let us also thank Sylvia Lankford of the Management Bureau for her stirring rendition of our national anthem.
This afternoon we pause to center our hearts and thoughts on our fallen colleagues. We honor all of the brave women and men who have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of people throughout the world.
Today's ceremony salutes three Foreign Service Nationals who served in the ranks with us.
We honor their commitment to pursue the ideals that enable people and societies to flourish. We honor their self-sacrifice and we honor their many lasting contributions that will be evident in their countries for many years to come.
As we recall cherished memories, I want to call your attention to some of the images in the area where we are gathered.
At the end of the foyer is a portrait of George C. Marshall. We trace the birth of USAID to the words he uttered at Harvard University in 1947, exactly 60 years ago last June. It was then that this country undertook the aid of foreign societies, not as a periodic and exceptional matter, but as an official, ongoing part of our government's foreign policy.
"Our policy is directed not against any country or doctrine," General Marshall said, "but against hunger, poverty, desperation and chaos." Simply put, "its purpose" is to create the conditions "in which free institutions can exist."
Along these walls, we also see pictures that embody the work of which General Marshall spoke. They illustrate our fight against hunger, disease, and poverty and our efforts to help bring a better life to others.
This panel contains the famous USAID logo - hands clasped in friendship and partnership. It contains the names of the individuals at USAID who sacrificed their lives in the grand enterprise that Marshall began 60 years ago.
Many of us here today knew some of the people whose names appear here as friends and colleagues. Foreign Service Nationals are remembered with a special time highlighting their contributions.
Our FSN colleagues are vital to our operations and our programs. Their vast technical knowledge and unique perspective of the country adds to the success of our mission abroad.
FSNs are our resident experts who know and understand the social, cultural, political, and economic landscape. They have assumed a prominent role in our missions as they work alongside their Foreign Service Officer counterparts.
The three FSNs whom we memorialize today were each important to their USAID missions.
The two FSNs from Sudan, Andrew Tombe and Boudoin Tally, were killed while working in Juba.
Andrew Tombe served in our Sudan Mission for ten years, both in Khartoum and in Juba. He began his career with USAID in Khartoum with the Agriculture Development Office. In 1985 he transferred to Juba where he worked as an Administrative Assistant. He is survived by his wife Carmela and their two daughters.
"Boudoin Tally was originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He began working for USAID on August 2, 1981 and made many significant contributions throughout his 11 year tenure at the Agency. Boudoin is survived by his wife Jacqueline and 5 children - 2 sons and 3 daughters.
We want both families to know that they are in our thoughts and prayers today.
The third FSN we honor is from our Mission in Iraq. He will remain nameless both in my remarks and on the plaque out of concern for his family's security.
Our FSNs in Iraq play a vital role in the rebuilding and stabilization efforts with which our Agency has been charged.
They undertake tremendous risks everyday to not only to help us accomplish our and their mission of a more peaceful and prosperous Iraq.
We are humbled by this sacrifice and fervently pray that our common sacrifices bring a better life for all Iraqis.
I am honored and humbled to add three tiles to the memorial wall.
Let us pause for a moment to remember each of them, the sacrifices they made, and USAID's mission, which they so fervently upheld.
In memorializing our colleagues, let us recommit ourselves to the noble ideals we serve.
Thank you.
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