As a Department of State retiree with 30 years of service and a Mystic native, I am proud to have been a member of the U.S. Foreign Service. However, I am surprised little is known about America's diplomats. We serve at 270 posts around the world, in hard and sometimes dangerous places, working to protect America's people, interests and values. 

I served in Naples, Moscow, Dublin, Mexico, Washington, Rome (an international organization resulting from the Camp David Peace Accords — MFO; our Director General was assassinated in 1984), Belgrade, Kuwait (I was a hostage after Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion), and Paris. 

In 1996, the U.S. Senate designated the first Friday in May "American Foreign Service Day." This day members of the Foreign Service around the world and at home come together to recognize thousands of people who commit their lives to serving the U.S. abroad and to the impact that work has had. This year, that day is May 4. 

With all the threats to U.S. security and prosperity, I hope my fellow citizens appreciate the Foreign Service and agree in order to maintain American global leadership, we must field a top-notch diplomatic team, or risk forfeiting the game to our adversaries. 

Joan Donahue Mark

Mystic