The parents of James Foley, the first American citizen to be beheaded by ISIS in Syria in August, are coming to Washington to receive an award on their son’s behalf at the U.S. Institute of Peace.
Foley is receiving the Oxi Day Award at the organization’s black tie gala on Thursday night.
Diane and John Foley will attend the dinner with John’s brothers, Michael and John (US Air Force), and their wives, sister Kathryn (US Navy) and other family members.
Former President Bill Clinton nominated Foley for the award. He will introduce Foley by video.
Why he was selected seems more than evident: “Foley, the first American citizen killed by ISIS in response to American airstrikes in Iraq, was selected for this award because he showed the same extraordinary David-vs-Golliath courage for freedom and democracy against ISIS that Greece showed against the Nazis in World War II,” says a release sent out by the Washington Oxi Day Foundation.
A few others will receive awards that night. They include Ruslana Lyzhychko, who will receive the Battle of Crete Award, and former Israeli President Shimon Peres, who will receive the Metropolitican Chrysostomos Award.