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September 5th, 2014
08:48 PM ET
Hundreds mourn slain journalist Steven Sotloff: "My heart is broken"
Pinecrest, Florida (CNN) - Hundreds of relatives, friends and officials mourned slain American journalist Steven Sotloff, killed by the terror group ISIS, in a memorial service Friday.
A letter written by Sotloff was read aloud during the service. The letter was smuggled out while he was in captivity before his death.
"Everyone has two lives. A second one begins when you realize you only have one," Sotloff's letter said in part. "Hug each other every day. Please know I am OK. Live your lives to the fullest and pray to be happy."
The public service for the Florida journalist was held at Temple Beth Am in Pinecrest, outside Miami.
Among attendees were Florida Gov. Rick Scott, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist.
Sotloff letter said it all. He knew he was dead. Those are dangerous places. This is war and The USA has inflicted its share of casualty. My heart goes out to his familu. RIP.
The killing of Steven Sotloff and the massacre of thousands of Syrian soldiers is a testament to the barbarity if ISIS. Syria is very essential to ISIS. It's their spiritual ,recruitment, indoctrination,financial, equipment and weapon acquisition and convoy assembly center. Syria is the key to stopping ISIS. If they can be stopped in Syria, Iraq will take care of itself. Syria is the "Alma mater" of ISIS; their university of terror. The United States should try to work with president Assad although he's not their best friend right now. They both a common goal, he knows Syria well and has military assets. War makes for strange bedfellows. Hitting ISIS in Iraq helps but they will never be stopped and destroyed unless it happens in Syria. ISIS returnees to their country of origin should be arrested and tried for treason.