Emotional 10th Foley Freedom Run was packed with love, patriotism and hope

An emotional Diane Foley is presented with a flag that was aloft during a failed rescue attempt of her son, Jim, who was executed by ISIS less than a month later. At left is John Foley, foreground, and Lee Falgoust (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHESTER - The pain, the suffering, the anguish and the triumph all came back to the family of slain journalist James W. Foley on Saturday.
It came during a brief ceremony prior to the start of the 10th annual James W. Foley Freedom Run, when a Pennsylvania man presented Jim's mother, Diane Foley, with an American Flag that was aboard a failed mission to rescue her son in July of 2014, about a month before he was beheaded by ISIS on Aug. 14, 2014.
Lee Falgoust of Pennsylvania recounted to a crowd of about 600 runners and spectators how he was contacted by a man who wanted to rent his Jersey shore home for a week for an Air Force pilot, an "American hero," who had just risked his life on a top-secret military mission overseas.

Gavin Zuniga of Barrington, who took first place

Falgoust said of course, and said it would be his honor to let him have the house for the week at no charge.
After the week was over Falgoust said when he went to prepare the house for his next guest he found an American flag with a statement containing the date of the mission, July 4, 2014, but few other details.
Curious about the mission, he began doing occasional research and over the course of months and years confirmed the mission was a failed attempt to rescue Jim.
On Saturday he presented the flag to his parents, Diane and John Foley.
"They're the ones who should have this flag," Falgoust said. "And I thought the 10th anniversary of the Freedom Run would be a fitting time to present it to them."
An emotional Diane Foley, of Rochester, who was visibly moved by the presentation, spoke with The Rochester Voice moments after the runners had left the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center parking lot.

COME ON AND TAKE A FREE RIDE: A pair of strollers with a pair of younguns in each take off at the start of the James Foley Freedom Run on Saturday from the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center parking lot in Rochester.

"The Foley Foundation has been constantly pushing and advocating for all Americans held hostage overseas, and from President Obama to President Biden they've all been great.
She recounted that Obama wrote an executive order in 2015 that the government should always be "willing to negotiate" to get hostages returned to the homeland.
She said President Trump codified that policy in the signing of the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act of 2020.
She added that President Biden has also been great, giving the families of U.S. citizens who were taken hostage during the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack in Israel full access to the president's office.
Diane Foley said Biden did a lot to get some of the hostages released during a cease fire earlier this year, but fears for the ones that are left.
She said the fact that we're not dealing with a nation state, but a terrorist group makes the situation more dire.
On the Foley Foundation website, the cornerstone of its message is the idea of moral courage.
"Moral courage takes many forms," it reads. "We seek to inspire our government to prioritize the freedom of innocent Americans held captive abroad, to secure press freedom by promoting journalist safety, to stand up for universal human rights and stand against the use of human beings as bargaining chips. We must all do what's right, even when we face risks for doing so."
The 10th Annual Freedom Run was run under perfect conditions, with temps in the 50s under a cloudless blue sky. Many in the crowd were heard remarking that the event has never had less than perfect weather.
Gavin Zuniga of Barrington ran the best 5K of his life taking first place with a time of 16.41.
"It was my best time by far," he said. "I've been training for six months running 40 miles a week. I'm trying to get ready for the Seacoast Half Marathon." That event will be held Oct. 27.
The James Foley Freedom Run also drew appearances from New Hampshire Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan as well as Representative Chris Pappas, who finished the race in 22nd place.

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