Hiram Bingham IV- ...............

"SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL (who granted a posthumous award to Harry's children): "This proud tradition of service has deep roots in American history and in the Foreign Service. Later in today's ceremony, we'll be honoring the memory of Harry Bingham, IV, a US Vice Consul in Marseilles who risked his life and his career, put it on the line, to help over 2,500 Jews and others who were on Nazi death lists to leave France for America in 1940 and 1941. I am especially, especially honored and pleased to welcome here today in the audience two people who owe their lives to Harry Bingham's "visas of freedom," two people who got out because Harry was prepared to take that risk to career to do that which he knew was right. Would Mrs. Lillian Stuart Smith and Mr. Pierre Shostal please rise so we can recognize them. I think they're here. (Applause.) Where are they? We've lost them. They're somewhere. (Applause.) And a number of Harry Bingham's 11 children are also here today and will accept an award on behalf of their father in a moment." (Speech at ceremony honoring diplomats, State Department, June 27, 2002.) The Washington Post further reported that Powell praised this "special constructive dissent award that went posthumously to Hiram Bingham IV, who defied State Department policy during World War II by surreptitiously issuing...visas to Jews desperate to flee Nazism...Powell called Bingham a diplomat 'who risked his life and his career' to do the right thing. Thomas Pickering, a seven-time ambassador who received an award yesterday for contributions to U.S. diplomacy, also paid homage to Bingham's 'creative integrity.'" Washington Post 6/28/02."