Kassig remembered for courageous devotion to helping

Peter Kassig, the U.S. aid worker beheaded by Islamic State, was remembered Sunday for his courageous devotion to helping the Syrian people.

His parents, Ed and Paula Kassig, who in an October video pleaded for their son's freedom, released a statement, saying, quote, "We are incredibly proud of our son for living his life according to his humanitarian calling."

U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed the Indiana native's death.

He praised Kassig as a humanitarian killed in "an act of pure evil."

Kassig was kidnapped in October 2013 while traveling for an aid project to the eastern Syrian city of Deir al-Zor.

With his death, Kassig became the fifth Western hostage killed by Islamic State.