JEDDAH, 17 December 2004 — The US Consulate General held a memorial service on Wednesday for those who lost their lives in the Dec. 6 terrorist attack on the mission in Jeddah. “The consulate community, along with their families and friends, saluted the courage and bravery of the colleagues lost in the terrorist attack,” a consulate statement said yesterday.
Representing the Kingdom at the memorial service was Ahmed Al-Ahmadi, second secretary for protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jeddah.
Also present was Ambassador Francis X. Taylor, assistant secretary of state for diplomatic security, who was visiting from Washington.
In Riyadh, US Ambassador James C. Oberwetter led the embassy staff in a memorial service on the same day. At the US Consulate in Dhahran, a moment of silence was observed, following earlier ceremonies, according to Consul General Alfred F. Fonteneau.
“May God bless their souls, and give us the same courage to forget the pain we endured in losing them,” Consul General Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley said. “We’ll always remember the heroism they demonstrated.”
The consulate named the terrorist victims as Ali Yaslem Bin Talib, Imad e-Deen Musa Ali, Romeo de la Rosa, Mohammed Baheer Uddin and Jaufar Sadik.
“A plaque bearing the names of these men, who came from Yemen, Sudan, Philippines, India and Sri Lanka, will be hung with honor in the consulate,” she said.
“Five palm trees have also been planted on the consulate grounds in memory of these colleagues, whose length of service ranged between one and one-half to more than 26 years.”
During the service, one could see the American flag that was flying over the chancery on the morning of the attack. “Like this flag that endured the attack, the heroic spirit and courageous souls of our five friends will also endure,” the consul general added. Several of the consulate staff reflected on the lives and untimely deaths of their colleagues.
The service included a moment of silence, as well as readings from the Qur’an and the Bible.
