A group of Sri Lanka immigrants held up a placard outside the church describing Colvin as the “uncrowned queen of intrepid journalists.”
Seetharam Sivam said he came to pay his respects because the reporter had alerted the world to the horrors of the Sri Lankan civil war, losing an eye in 2001 after being hit by shrapnel.
“She took the risks and went into war zones. She brought the truth of the Tamil plight to the world,” he said.
A large American flag hung outside the funeral home where Colvin’s remains have lain since they were finally retrieved from Syria amid dramatic circumstances.
She was killed along with French photographer Remi Ochlik on February 22 when the media centre they were working in took a direct hit from a Syrian army mortar.
The under-siege residents of Homs used dwindling supplies of fuel to keep their body in a makeshift morgue.
In her last broadcast from Homs, Colvin told CNN how she had watched a baby die in the rubble, and condemned the Syrian government for attacking civilians.
“It’s a complete and utter lie that they are only going after terrorists,” she said. “There are no military targets here.”
After the service, Mr Witherow said: “She’ll be inspirational to journalists all over the world because she was always there to help people.” Mr Murdoch described the service as “beautiful”.
Colvin is survived by her mother Rosemary, two brothers and two sisters.
Related posts:
Views: 0