The strengthening of the strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States was the central theme of a visit last week by Keeper of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman ibn ’Abd Al-’Aziz Al Sa’ud to Washington, DC, where he and his top advisers met with President Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and other government leaders. Both the Saudi and the American sides declared afterward that the meetings were successful, expressing optimism that the two countries’ long relationship would continue to grow and prosper, with new bi-lateral initiatives planned in the fields of health, education and investment. Coinciding with King Salman’s trip, hundreds of former Aramcons traveled to the nation’s capital to participate in ceremonies marking his visit. Many of them stayed at the Capital Hilton, a historical landmark on 16th Street NW straight down the street from the White House, which could easily be seen from in front of the hotel. On Saturday, Aramco sponsored a reception and dinner for 500 guests at the neoclassical Andrew M. Mellon Auditorium on Constitution Avenue, directly across the street from the National Museum of History. The gala event began with a reception in the ornate Green rooms on the main floor followed by a presentation on stage in the resplendent Great Hall, where two sets of speakers answered questions from moderators. The evening concluded with a grand buffet featuring a splendid variety of Arabian foods. The theme of the evening was “Nation to Nation, People to People: The Human Connection.”
The first panel, which looked at the past and the growth of the valuable relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States consisted of two former Aramco presidents and CEOs: Frank Jungers, and Abdallah S. Jum’ah,. Today Jum’ah serves as co-chair of the U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council. Together, Jungers and Jum’ah shared informative and colorful stories about their experiences working for Aramco in its earlier days. The second panel, which looked at the future of Saudi-U.S. cooperation, consisted of HE Khalid Al Falih, Minister of Health and Chairman of the Board of Saudi Aramco, and HE Adel Al-Jubeir Minister of Foreign Affairs. Panel members were introduced by Mohammed Qahtani, recent winner of the World Championship of Public Speaking at the Annual Toastmasters International convention. For his winning speech, Qahtani spoke of “The Power of Words.” The power of words was in evidence throughout the evening in the persons of the four guest speakers. The universal conclusion of all parties present that historic night was that the fellowship and love felt globally by Aramcons past and present are unique, without equal anywhere in the world. Tens of thousands of men and women from one hundred or more countries are brothers and sisters for life thanks to their years spent living and working in Saudi Arabia as part of the Aramco family. The warm comradeship they feel for one another was fully in evidence at the Mellon Auditorium that night—a night everyone fortunate to be present will carry with them as a treasured memory. Special guests in addition to the panel members included HE Ibrahim Al-Assaf, Minister of Finance and HE Abdullatif Al-Othman, Governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority.
Other attendees included Ali Baluchi, Stan and Peggy McGinley; Art Clark from ASC, H. Delano Roosevelt, grandson of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Chairman of the Middle East Council of American Chambers of Commerce, the grandson of William A. Eddy, the man who served as interpreter for the pivotal February 1945 meeting between King Ibn Saud and FDR and many Aramcons and Brats. A large thank you is extended to Art Clark, Kathy and Tom Owens, and others who organized this grand tribute to King Salman's visit to the United States. As one, Aramco annuitants attending the ceremonies in Washington look forward to the next annual meeting of former Aramcons scheduled to be held next year in Monterrey, California. In the words of Al Jubeir, “Ultimately, it’s not only about oil and trade and investment and the common interests that we have, it’s also about the people-to-people link that we have that very few people appreciate who are outside this relationship.”