[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 107 (Tuesday, September 5, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S8954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     FOREIGN SERVICE FAMILY LOSSES

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, Monday, August 7, was the eighth 
anniversary of the bombings of our Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es 
Salaam of August 7, 1998. On that dreadful day, the lives of 12 
Americans, 11 Tanzanians, and 212 Kenyans were tragically taken; more 
than 4,000 injured. The names of 56 killed U.S. Government employees--
Americans, Kenyans, and Tanzanians--are memorialized on a plaque on a 
wall in the State Department. I want to take this opportunity to extend 
my deepest sympathies and condolences to the families and friends of 
those who died and to those who were injured. We continue to mourn 
their loss. Their memories will remain eternal. And we pray for 
strength for those who are still suffering.
  At this time, I also want to express my heartfelt sympathy for 
another great loss in the Foreign Service family, the matriarch of 
America's diplomats, Ambassador Mary Ryan. I, as well as all those who 
knew her, was deeply saddened to hear of Mary's passing on April 25.
  During my days with the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mary and I 
worked closely together in response to the 1993 World Trade Center 
bombings by aggressively introducing technology data systems, such as 
the TIPOFF lookout system, and strengthening interagency information 
sharing to identify potential terrorists as they applied for visas to 
our great Nation. In the aftermath of the August 7 bombings in Kenya 
and Tanzania, and then after 9/11, our paths crossed again, as we, 
together, tackled the visa and border security challenges of our day. 
Mary's dedication to and love for her nation was always very evident 
during these trying times.
  As the longest-serving diplomat at the time of her departure from the 
State Department, Mary served 36 years in her distinguished public 
service career. Mary entered the Foreign Service in 1966 serving in 
Naples, Tegucigalpa, Monterrey, Washington, Abidjan, and Khartoum 
before being appointed ambassador to Swaziland in 1988. In 1993, she 
became the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs and in 
1999 she was named career ambassador, only the second woman to hold the 
rank in the history of the State Department.
  A mentor to generations in the Foreign Service, particularly women, 
Mary Ryan was truly an outstanding American diplomat and public 
servant. Mary donated much of her time to those in need, extending a 
uniquely kind, generous and warm spirit that will be missed by all.
  The Nation owes a deep debt of gratitude to these fine men and women 
who serve our Nation's interests overseas and their families. And I 
want to thank them for their public service and dedication to our fine 
Nation.

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