James Foley's touching letter to loved ones: 'I feel you all especially when I pray'
A special memorial service was held for James Foley, the American journalist recently killed by the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), in his home city of Rochester, NH.
The BBC reported that the Church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary was "completely packed" in remembrance of the journalist who was kidnapped nearly two years ago while covering the uprising in Syria.
At the service, parishioner Mary Rose Reddy described Foley as a "beautiful man."
"He was such a witness and it was an honor to know him," Reddy said.
Manchester Bishop Peter Libasci praised Foley for risking his life saying that Foley returned to Syria "that we might open our eyes."
Foleys supervisor, Phil Balboni, of Global Post, also gave remarks at the service saying that Foley "did not give his life in vain."
"I think Jim's sacrifice has awakened the world and America that something needs to be done about this group," Balboni said.
The service was not the only remembrance of Foley. His friends and family created a Facebook group titled "Free James Foley" in 2012 promoting the journalist's release. The page now remains open in his memory.
On Sunday night, the Foley family released a letter written by Foley while in captivity on the group's page.
When releasing the letter, the family wrote: "All letters Jim wrote to his family during his captivity were confiscated by the jailers.So, Jim devised a better approach this last June: he asked a fellow hostage about to be released to commit a letter to memory."
After his release Sunday, American journalist Peter Theo Curtis, who was held in captivity by ISIS for nearly two years, recited, from memory, a letter written by Foley.
In the letter, Foley recalled childhood memories and encouraged his friends and family to "stay strong and believe." Foley said that he knows his family is thinking about and praying for him.
Foley wrote: "I am so thankful. I feel you all especially when I pray. I really feel I can touch you even in this darkness when I pray."
A funeral service is being planned for October, on what would have been Foley's 41st birthday, according to WMTW 8.
