Jim: The James Foley Story Page #10

kinda huddled together.

Jim always found a way to bring

people together. Always.

[Diane]

I really don't think I...

came to know Jim as a man, as an adult.

I came to know him through his friends.

It's hard as a mother,

you know, they're always

your children somehow...

and it's hard to see that they're adults

with heir own gifts in their

own way in the world.

The day before his memorial,

I was like, "sh*t."

I was like, now I get it.

Now I get it.

You know, jokingly, I was always

like, you know Jim get a job.

Jim, you know, save for retirement.

And so what I didn't recognize,

he was trying to teach me,

John, you need to look

outside of yourself.

John, It's not about

physical or monetary things.

It's about how you act.

It's who you teach,

who you mentor.

Who's going to remember you? What are

they going to remember about you?

Jimmy was included in the long line of journalists

who gave their lives to tell the truth.

We were just totally humbled by the fact that

the committee in Bayeux would nominate him

to be included on one

of the markers with,

2,000 other deceased journalists.

It was a very important moment.

This was Jim, and it... made me

feel very warm inside that, um,

he was accepted as one of them.

[Didier speaking]

[John Sr.]

And that's the difference with Jim.

He was just a you, and a me,

friendly guy, until tested.

[voice breaking] Where that came from

I don't know, Brian.

Because you can't... Just can't

grit something like that out.

You have to have an inner strength...

to do that.

We discovered Jim

just like the world did.

He was truly a man for others.

Witnessing Jim's murder this publicly.

It sends a message to all of us,

and my... I guess

response to that is,

having lost so many

friends and knowing that

people are purposely

out for journalists now...

I mean, we have to fight back

with our pictures and our words.

I just... I don't

wanna let them win.

The extent to which

the media coverage took off,

it was just staggering.

It was absolutely staggering.

Something like 94% of Americans

were aware of Jim's death

and how he died. It's the event

with the second most recognition

in recent American history after 9/11.

He would have been horrified by that, I mean,

he was there to talk about the Syrian people

and this is the takeaway.

[Brian] What is your response to people who

would say that Jim shouldn't have been there?

[Clare] My response is, do you read

the newspaper, do you watch TV?

You're depending on someone

to bring you that information.

If you care about what's going on in Syria,

you don't have the right to be like,

"Oh, why's he there?"

How do you even know what "there" is?

Because he told you.

I remember the video,

and there was a desert...

and in the background you could

see that the desert stopped.

And there was all

the valley of Euphrates.

So I called into what I know from James.

I'm like 100% sure

that even though he was convinced he

will be killed, he enjoyed the view.

[Nicolas] He died as a free man.

This is not the death of a hostage.

And that is the difference eventually

between... Between Jim and myself.

I ended up being released...

but, he ended up free.

And when we came to James' funeral, everything

started to become real again in a way.

The fact that I managed to say

goodbye to James together with

all his loved ones was really powerful.

It reminded me how

important it was that...

That James, he gave that letter to me.

[Michael] "Dear family and friends, I

remember going to the mall with Dad...

"a very long bike ride with Mom.

"I remember so many great family times

that take me away from this prison.

"Dreams of family and friends take me

away and happiness fills my heart.

"I know you are thinking of me and

praying for me and I am so thankful.

"I feel you all especially when I pray. I

pray for you to stay strong and to believe.

"I really feel I can touch you in

even in this darkness when I pray.

"I think a lot about

my brothers and sister.

"I remember playing werewolf

in the dark with Michael

"and so many other adventures.

"I think of chasing Matty and

T around the kitchen counter,

"it makes me happy to think of them.

"If there is any money left

in my bank account,

"I want it to go to Michael and Matthew.

"I'm so proud of you, Michael,

"and thankful to you for happy

childhood memories,

"and to you and Kristie

for happy adult ones.

"And big John, how I loved

visiting you and Cress in Germany.

"Thank you for welcoming me.

"I think a lot about Ro-Ro and try

to imagine what Jack is like.

"I hope he has

Ro-Ro's personality."

[Priest] So Mark and Casey, what

name have you given your son?

- James Michael Foley.

- James Michael Foley.

"And Mark, so proud of you too, bro.

"I think of you on the west coast and hope

you're doing some snowboarding and camping.

"I especially remember us going to

the comedy club in Boston, together,

"and our big hug after. The

special moments keep me hopeful.

"Katie, so very proud of you. You were

the strongest and best of us all.

"I think of you working so hard,

helping people as a nurse.

"I pray I can come to your wedding.

Now I'm sounding like Grammy.

"Grammy, please take your medicine,

take walks and keep dancing.

"I plan to take you out

to Margarita's when I get home.

"Stay strong because I am going to

need you to help reclaim my life.

"Jim."

If I should close my eyes

That my soul can see

And there's a place at the table

That you save for me

So many thousand miles

Over land and sea

I hope today

That you hear my prayer

And somehow I'll be there

It's but a concrete floor

where my head will lay

And though the walls of this

prison are as cold as clay

But there's a shaft of light

where I count my days

So don't despair

At the empty chair

Somehow I'll be there

Some days I'm strong

Some days I'm weak

And days I'm broken

I can barely speak

That place in my head

Where my thoughts still roll

Somehow I've come home

And when the winter comes

and the trees lie bare

And you just stare out the

window and the darkness there

Well, I was always late

for every meal you swear

But keep my place

On the empty chair

And somehow I'll be there

And somehow I'll be there

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