Diplomacy Center Foundation Founding Ambassadors Concourse Dedication
On May 8, 2019, the Diplomacy Center Foundation, the private sector fundraising partner for the National Museum of American Diplomacy (previously known as the United States Diplomacy Center), hosted a celebratory luncheon to dedicate the Founding Ambassadors Concourse. The luncheon was held at the 21,000-square-foot glass entrance pavilion of the Diplomacy Center at the U.S. Department of State.
This special dedication honored the Founding Ambassadors, all individual donors who have received presidential appointments and donated $100,000 or more to the creation of the museum, which is set to open in 2022. To date, 66 Founding Ambassadors have raised a combined total of over $10 million. They include two former U.S. Secretaries of State, one former U.S. Secretary of Defense, and 63 former U.S. ambassadors. The campaign is chaired by Ambassador Stuart Bernstein (ret.), who also serves on the Diplomacy Center Foundation Board of Directors.
The Diplomacy Center Foundation welcomed more than 100 guests that included Founding Ambassadors, additional donors, and members of the diplomatic community. Ambassador William C. Harrop (ret.), Founding Ambassador and Chair of the Diplomacy Center Foundation Board of Directors, offered the opening remarks. He recognized Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley (ret.) for her efforts in raising the first $50 million for the museum.
Ambassador Harrop also spoke on the importance of German-American relations in light of the upcoming anniversary of the end of the Berlin Airlift. The luncheon featured several objects from the museum’s collection, including an “Operation Vittles Cookbook.” The Operation Vittles Cookbook was compiled by American women during the 1949 Berlin Blockade in an effort to create recipes using the limited resources available to them. The Diplomacy Center Foundation was grateful to have Boris Ruge, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, in attendance.
FROM THE COLLECTION
“Operation Vittles” Cookbook
The Diplomacy Center Foundation was also honored to welcome Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering (ret.), who is a Founding Ambassador and Vice Chair of the Diplomacy Center Foundation Board of Directors. Ambassador Pickering’s remarks touched on the crucial role American diplomacy plays in advancing prosperity in the United States and around the world. He also thanked the guests for their support “in this particular endeavor of telling Americans what diplomacy does for them and what they can do for diplomacy.”
Speakers also included the museum’s Director Mary Kane. Mrs. Kane spoke about the outstanding education programs currently available at the museum and updated guests about the museum’s current exhibit planning.
Ambassador Stuart Bernstein (ret.) concluded the luncheon by emphasizing the importance of diplomacy in maintaining a peaceful international order and the need to communicate this message through the creation of a museum dedicated to American diplomacy. He stated, “There are hundreds of museums in [… the U.S.] that are dedicated to military and war – over 400 – and not a single one to diplomacy! […Therefore,] when Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley asked me to support the building of this museum I did not hesitate.” In his closing remarks, Ambassador Bernstein officially dedicated the space to the Founding Ambassadors.
The Diplomacy Center Foundation would like to thank all our guests for attending this special event. We also extend our deepest thanks and gratitude to our Founding Ambassadors for their generous contributions and support for creating the first museum dedicated to telling the story of American diplomacy.
