Friend –

America has lost a national treasure today, and the USGLC has most certainly lost a champion for our cause. I join the entire USGLC family in mourning the tremendous loss of General Colin Powell, who has served as Chair of our National Advisory Council for more than 15 years.

All day I have been reflecting on his contribution to our work, which is truly unmatched. He was the ultimate citizen-soldier, carrying with him a deep conviction of the imperative that America must lead in the world and the military alone could not keep us safe. He led an effort to dramatically increase the U.S. Foreign Service and strengthen our diplomatic readiness as Secretary of State, and after he left public service, he was a tireless advocate for our diplomatic, development, and foreign assistance tools. He was always there with his guidance and counsel, USGLC’s North Star throughout the years.

A few brief items in remembrance of this remarkable man:

• My personal statement from this morning.
• An opinion piece by General Powell in The New York Times, which is timeless in support of USGLC’s issues.
• My last interview with him celebrating our 25th anniversary.

I last saw General Powell when we were taping our anniversary video. When we finished, we talked and talked – about the state of the world, the importance of America’s global leadership, and reminiscing about our work together. By the end of the conversation, we both had teared up – I was certainly crying. I lost an incredible friend today who showed me the best of service to our country and who guided USGLC towards a stronger, wiser path. For that I will forever be grateful.

While his legacy will continue to endure in our work, he will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his entire family.

Best,

Liz
Liz Schrayer, USGLC