From the Metro Desk of Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog, Ohio's Most Read Online Black Newspaper and Newspaper Blog
(www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com)
ROCHESTER, New Hampshire-A memorial mass that drew hundreds was held for beheaded U.S. freelance photo journalist James Foley Sunday afternoon in Rochester, NH , his hometown where friends, family and journalists from across the country gathered to mourn his death and salute his life accomplishments.
A video was released on Tuesday showing Foley's beheading by a masked executioner with a British accent.
President Obama said in a statement Friday that the execution of the well-regarded journalist "shocks the conscience of an entire world."
The president also said that "the U.S. will do what is necessary to see that justice is done."
A well-paid journalist, Foley was abducted in northern Syria in 2012 at 40-years-old by Islamic State militants while on assignment to cover the war in Syria for Agence France-Presse and the Boston-based media company.
His slaying came after U.S. officials refused to pay a ransom and would not agree to what Islamic militants referred to as a hostage exchange.
British Intelligence has reportedly identified his killer, though the alleged killer's name has not been publicly released.
Hours after Sunday's memorial Foley's parents released a letter from the slain journalist that was posted on the "Free James Foley" Facebook page.
Foley says in the letter that he was being held with 17 other hostages.
The letter was dictated by a since released hostage and directed to Foley's family members, including his father and mother Diane, and his grandmother, whom he asked to stay strong until his release from captivity, which never came.
"Dreaming of family and friends take me away and happiness fills my heart," Foley says in the letter.
"I have had weak days and strong days," the letter says.
"We are grateful when anyone is freed; but of course, yearn for our own freedom," says Foley. "We try to encourage each other and share strength."
