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Nicole Tung via Facebook

James Foley wrote a letter to his family while in captivity and it's beautiful

“Dreams of family and friends take me away and happiness fills my heart.”

THE FAMILY OF journalist James Foley, who was beheaded by Islamic State militants after two years in captivity, have released a heartbreaking letter he wrote to them while he was imprisoned.

In a post on the Free James Foley Facebook page, they explain that all of the letters he wrote to his family were confiscated while he was imprisoned.

When the journalist found out that a fellow hostage was to be released, he asked him to commit a letter to memory and as soon as the hostage got out, he called the family and dictated the entire letter.

Foley spoke of how his happy memories with his family helped him to get through the tough times in prison. The letter carried a message for each member of the family, finishing with his grandmother, who he told to stay strong because he would need her when he got out.

Here is his beautiful letter in full:

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 even in this darkness when I pray.

Eighteen of us have been held together in one cell, which has helped me. We have had each other to have endless long conversations about movies, trivia, sports. We have played games made up of scraps found in our cell…we have found ways to play checkers, Chess, and Risk… and have had tournaments of competition, spending some days preparing strategies for the next day’s game or lecture. The games and teaching each other have helped the time pass. They have been a huge help. We repeat stories and laugh to break the tension.

I have had weak and strong days. We are so grateful when anyone is freed; but of course, yearn for our own freedom. We try to encourage each other and share strength. We are being fed better now and daily. We have tea, occasional coffee. I have regained most of my weight lost last year.

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 Mattie 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 am 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 enjoyed visiting you and Cress in Germany. Thank you for welcoming me. I think a lot about RoRo and try to imagine what Jack is like. I hope he has RoRo’s personality!

And Mark… so proud of you too Bro. I think of you on the West coast and hope you are 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 are the strongest and best of us all!! I think of you working so hard, helping people as a nurse. I am so glad we texted just before I was captured. I pray I can come to your wedding…. now I am 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 your help to reclaim my life.

Jim

Read: To pay or not to pay? James Foley’s death underscores an agonising dilemma>

More: Read the chilling email IS militants sent to James Foley’s parents>

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74 Comments
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    Mute Ned Flanders
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    Sep 18th 2018, 9:48 PM

    Went today. Its great craic and well worth a trip out. The Garda have done a great job with traffic in the area too.

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    Mute Finbarr Lucey
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    Sep 18th 2018, 10:52 PM

    @Ned Flanders: of all the ploughing matches I went to over the years I have to say screggan tullamore is by far the best area to hold the event. So easy to get there and get back from. No delays , very well managed by the Gardai . And very Central for people to travel. Should be held there every year I think.

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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    Sep 18th 2018, 11:02 PM

    @Finbarr Lucey: couldn’t agree more. Especially after the disaster that was New Ross.

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    Mute Finbarr Lucey
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    Sep 18th 2018, 11:25 PM

    @Bilbo Baggins: and castlemartyr

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    Mute Siobhàn Malone
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    Sep 18th 2018, 9:58 PM

    Should it last for four days to allow for issues like these and accommodate the vast crowds that want to attend…? has the ploughing out-grown 3 days?

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    Mute LITTLEONE
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    Sep 18th 2018, 9:40 PM

    Going on Thursday so hopefully bit better weather.

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    Mute Dáithí O Raghailaigh
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    Sep 18th 2018, 9:41 PM

    that’s the headline for all the papers tomorrow ..

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    Mute Joe L
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    Sep 18th 2018, 10:43 PM

    97,500 there today. Will it ever get to the stage where there are too many people on site?

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    Mute Do the Bort man
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    Sep 19th 2018, 9:31 AM

    @Joe L: there 112,500 attended the first day last year, I was there on that day and yesterday, it’s very busy where the walkways intersect, but overall its ok

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    Mute Seeking Truth
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    Sep 19th 2018, 7:17 AM

    Extending the show to a 4th day is a great idea. The traffic is always terrible so maybe that would ease things up a bit…

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    Mute James O'Brien
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    Sep 18th 2018, 10:18 PM

    Who got knocked out by a fart wind then..

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Sep 19th 2018, 10:11 AM

    @James O’Brien: Feeling a bit thick now are you? Check out also the mounting damage and the death. Fool.

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    Mute DeFonz
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    Sep 19th 2018, 8:22 AM

    Is plough judging so minutely calibrated that they had a concern that the wind might disrupt the pattern of soil on the top of the furrows to such a degree that the readings would be inaccurate?

    have no knowledge of this stuff, merely intrigued by rural matters…

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Sep 19th 2018, 8:44 AM

    @DeFonz: try Google and learn a bit.

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