U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) will be the keynote speaker at the annual Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association breakfast Feb. 15 to kick off the citywide George Washington Birthday Parade day celebrations.

A long-time Alexandria resident, Beyer is serving his first term in Congress. Previously, he served as U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein and was the lieutenant governor of Virginia from 1990 to 1998.

After serving as lieutenant governor for eight years, Beyer lost his bid for governor in 1997. But “Plan B” had its advantages.

“Being Ambassador turned out to be better than being governor,” Beyer joked when he spoke to the Alexandria Rotary Club shortly after his election. “There was no General Assembly to deal with.”

Beyer currently serves on the Joint Economic Committee, the House Committee on Natural Resources, is Ranking Member on the Oversight Subcommittee to the Committee on Science, Space and Technology and a member of the New Democrat Coalition.

Prior to his election to congress, Beyer spent 14 years as chair of Jobs for Virginia Graduates, a high school dropout prevention program, and was active for a decade on the board of the D.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. As chair of the Virginia Economic Recovery Commission, he helped pass permanent pro-business reforms and was co-founder of the Northern Virginia Technology Council.

Beyer used his role as ambassador to advocate for stricter sanctions to compel Iran to begin nuclear disarmament discussions and was integral to U.S. Department of Justice efforts to halt the abuses of Swiss bank secrecy by wealthy Americans.

Following his return to Alexandria in 2013, Beyer made the decision to re-enter public service, winning election to replace Jim Moran, who retired after serving 24 years representing the 8th district of Virginia.

“Megan and I had a wonderful four years in Switzerland,” Beyer said of he and his wife, who have four children and two grandchildren. “Being ambassador was a wonderful job but it’s good to be home and I am excited for the opportunity to again serve the people of Virginia.”

The Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association Breakfast will be held at the Hotel Monaco at 9 a.m. and will feature the presentation of the Ben Lynt Distinguished Service Award. For tickets or more information, email Bill Kehoe at kehoefd@aol.com or visit www.friendshipfire.net.