A Legacy of Moral Courage
A conversation with Diane Foley, mother of slain journalist James Foley and founder of the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation.
By Michael Judge
“Never, never, never, never, never.”
Those words—whispered by Lear after the hanging of his daughter Cordelia—are what I think of when I think of Diane Foley and the loss she experienced when her son James was kidnapped and beheaded by Islamic State terrorists in Syria in 2014. A loving son, brother, and dedicated journalist, James Wright Foley was born on Oct. 18, 1973, and died on Aug. 19, 2014, his 635th day in captivity.
As a father, I can’t imagine what Diane and her husband, John, went through during those 21 months. Nor can I fathom the grief and rage of losing a child in such a brutal and barbaric manner. What I can do is share their story, and look on in awe at the strength, compassion, and commitment they’ve shown since creating the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation in 2014 shortly after Jim’s death.
The foundation advocates for the freedom of all U.S nationals wrongfully detained, imprisoned, or held ho…
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