The Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State, is hosting an opening ceremony and reception for the exhibition,"100 Years of Diplomatic Couriers‚ None Swifter than These" at the U.S. Department of State, Diplomacy Center Pavilion, November 7, 2018, 1-2:30 pm.
The event commemorates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Department of State Diplomatic Courier Service. The anniversary symbolizes U.S. ascent to global leadership in the wake of World War I. After the Armistice, the Department assigned a group of handpicked U.S. Army messengers to U.S. Embassy Paris to support the peace negotiations that led to the Treaty of Versailles. These couriers hand carried diplomatic pouches across war-torn Europe and into Bolshevik Russia, providing crucial support to U.S. diplomacy. Very prominent in this history are the strong ties between the U.S. military and the State Department.
Invited guests include senior government and military officials, representatives of non-governmental organizations relating to WWI and courier history, representatives of U.S.-based foreign embassies with courier hubs in their countries, education officials, and members of academia. It is anticipated that 125 guests will attend. The ceremony includes a short program with brief remarks.