Journalist and public relations expert Franklin Polanco was honored yesterday by the US Government and Dominicans for his contributions to the friendship of the US and Dominican Republic. On occasion of his retirement from public service, he received the Professional Achievement Award granted by the US State Department for his key role and exceptional service in building friendship and cooperation between the US and the DR over 35 years of service as Senior Information Specialist at the United States Information Agency. In his role he excelled at conciliating interests of the US with those of the DR, by helping individuals in each country understand the other. "His dedication has been unceasing, whether it be placing the first videos from the United States government on local television, installing the first satellite dishes that made possible the regular transmission of Worldnet on the local news, facilitating the work of journalists, or looking for and piloting planes so that the Peace Corps could drop food from the air into zones isolated by Hurricane Georges. Recently Franklin convinced members of the yacht and airplane clubs to make up a volunteer rescue force which will prevent calamitous shipwrecks and loss of lives. He has been host, tour guide, and consultant to ambassadors, Secretaries of State, and Vice Presidents," added Ambassador Manatt. Polanco worked temporarily in the Peace Corps in 1962, and three years later he began his permanent job in the Information Service of the United States Embassy, subsequently known as the Press and Programs Office. US Ambassador Charles Manatt, calling Polanco "an exceptional human being," said that the award honors whom perhaps has been the best friend of Dominican-US relations. Franklin Polanco’s offices were located at USIA information center at Prolongacion Mexico No. 71. The offices will now be known as the Centro Franklin, in his honor. Large lettering to the effect were placed at the entrance of the office on his farewell day. In the January 16 farewell ceremony, the German ambassador, Alexandra Countess Kendeffy, thanked Polanco for his indefatigable participation in the rescue of victims of an airplane which fell into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean after taking off from the Puerto Plata airport on February 6, 1996, with more than 200 passengers, mostly Germans. In the reception offered by Ambassador Manatt, the well known public relations professional was accompanied by his wife, Patria de Polanco, who also worked in the United States Embassy for twenty-five years, and their children and grandchildren. The emotional ceremony was also attended by members of the diplomatic corps, high level officials of the government, editors of the local news media, national and foreign journalists, as well as representatives of the civil society, the military, and fellow workers.
