Bucks County 9-11 Memorial Garden Given State Designation

By: JEFF WERNER
07/19/2006

The state legislature has designated the Garden of Reflection in Lower Makefield Township as the official Pennsylvania memorial to the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The memorial will include the names of the 2,973 people who lost their lives at the World Trade Center, in western Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

"It is fitting that we recognize the victims of 9-11 and give their friends and family a place for reflection and mourning for years to come," said State Rep. David Steil (R-31), who helped secure the designation from the Pennsylvania legislature. Steil made the announcement earlier this month after the House and the Senate passed concurrent resolutions granting the designation."Those who have worked so hard to raise the money and to put this memorial together now have a designation as the official state memorial," said Steil. "That means it is very unlikely there will be another memorial to all the victims of 9-11 in the state and the state can promote this as part of its response to this tragedy and as a site for people to visit, seek solace in the events of that day and to pay respect to the victims." At the center of the $1.5 million memorial, now under construction on Woodside Road in the township, twin fountains will shoot toward the heavens representing healing and rebirth. They will be embraced by the names of the 17 from Bucks County who lost their lives on 9-11.Surrounding the core of the memorial will be a series of concentric circles, each representing eternity and leading visitors on a journey through life.A Remembrance Walk will include glass panels engraved with the close to 3,000 names forever etched in the nation's history and standing testament to the significant loss felt that day. Forty-two lights representing the children from Pennsylvania who lost their lives on 9-11 will light the way."Pennsylvania deserves to have a memorial. And we're thankful that the legislature has approved this to honor our loved ones and to give people a place to go to reflect and remember," said Lower Makefield Supervisor Grace Godshalk.Godshalk's son, Bill, was among those killed when terrorists flew hijacked airplanes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. He was vice president of institutional equity sales for Keefe, Bruyette & Woods."We lost a lot of people at the hands of terrorists," added Ellen Saracini. "And we're very proud here in Pennsylvania to recognize that these people are not forgotten and that they are important and that they are missed."Saracini, who helped spearhead the successful memorial project in Lower Makefield, lost her husband, Victor, in the attacks. He was the pilot of Flight 175, the second plane flown into the World Trade Center by hijackers."This is something Pennsylvania can be proud of," said Saracini, of the memorial garden. "And it's only fitting that the state memorial be located in Lower Makefield and in Bucks County, which lost the most people living in Pennsylvania."Saracini and Godshalk, both members of the memorial committee, particularly praised the efforts of Steil and Bucks County Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick, who fought vigorously for the designation after it was initially denied by the state over a dispute with officials from Somerset County, the site of the Flight 93 crash.The momentum changed in March when Bucks County 9-11 families, working with Steil and Fitzpatrick, managed to convince Flight 93 families and leaders of the Somerset project that the Bucks County memorial deserved the recognition and wouldn't adversely impact the national designation or funding for the Flight 93 memorial.Among those testifying on behalf of the Garden of Reflection was the wife of the First Officer of Flight 93, Melodie Homer. Letters of support were also received from Deena Burnett, the wife of a Flight 93 passenger, and Sandy Dahl, wife of the captain of Flight 93."We all agreed that there was no conflict with the designation," said Saracini. "Flight 93 will honor the 40 crew and passengers of Flight 93, but that's all their dedication is for."Pennsylvania, in showing dignity, honor and respect for all those that we lost, agreed that it would be only fitting that the Garden of Reflection, since it represents everyone that we lost, be given the designation," said Saracini.Godshalk added that the state designation wouldn't be taking anything away from the national designation of the Flight 93 memorial."Flight 93 will be a national monument and it supercedes a state monument," said Godshalk. "Now they will have their national monument recognizing the passengers and crew and we will have our state monument recognizing everyone who has lost their lives."The designation is basically in name only. According to Godshalk and Saracini, the title does not carry with it any financial responsibility by the state. The land will also remain in township hands.The designation, however, may open the door to future funding, according to Godshalk. "Now that we have this designation we might be able to go out to some foundations to get some money for upkeep and maintenance," she said.The seeds of the garden were planted in the months following the attacks when Lower Makefield Township officials voted to form a committee to study ways of appropriately honoring the nine residents from the township who died.Made up of 9-11 family members and high-profile business and community leaders, the committee chose a location, selected an architectural design and raised the money needed for the project.A dedication ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, September 30 beginning at 4 p.m. at Memorial Park on Woodside Road. The public is invited to attend.