The Garden of Reflection
by Cate Murway
Seventeen Bucks County residents lost their lives on September 11, 2001, along with 3,000 other innocent people in the attacks on America. The Garden of Reflection Memorial Garden exists largely due to the passionate efforts of Ellen Saracini, who’s 51-year-old husband, Victor J. Saracini, was the pilot of United Airlines Flight 175, the second plane to crash into the World Trade Center. It is a dedication to those we lost, and to the future American generations so that they will never forget.
Jami Vitale’s deeply personal loss of her bond broker cousin, Donald W. Jones, 43, a loving husband with two young daughters, keeps her motivated to always do her part. Skip Gittens, a principal organizer of the public reading of the 9/11 names at the Newtown State Street's Veterans Plaza, first spoke with Jami about her involvement while she was jogging on the Bristol Spurline Trail. Jami, a Bristol H.S. graduate, who studied broadcast journalism and continued to hone her talents in music at Temple University, has performed in Atlantic City, the Adelphia Nightclub and Las Vegas, has volunteered to sing the opening National Anthem, “On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes”. She vows to never forget. Jami’s future plans include finishing her CD of original R & B Pop Rock, as well as performing with her band, FM.
Smiling, energetic 8th grade Erica Segers, an aspiring “American Idol”, is never idle and she loves to sing! Erica, a Bristol H.S. cheerleader, softball and field hockey player, will share her vocal talents by singing “Amazing Grace” at the memorial ceremony. Erica has promised to perform at any school programs, Spring Concert, anything. Count her in! Another love is dancing, especially Latin Dancing which she enjoys along with her best friends, Britany and Felicia. If Erica were to map out a perfect day, she would hop on a plane and fly out to the West Coast to spend time with Christina Aquilera.
Eat a good breakfast, Erica. You have busy days ahead!
Garden of Reflection Bucks County Sept. 11 Memorial in Lower Makefield is being constructed in Memorial Park on Woodside Road near its intersection with Lindenhurst Road. The memorial should be completed in time for the Sept. 11, 2006 anniversary of the attacks, officials said. The memorial, which is being designed by Lower Makefield architect Liuba Lashchyk, will include a pool with two fountains representing the two destroyed towers of the World Trade Center. It will also have a stone railing inscribed with the names of the 17 Bucks County victims of the attacks.
Chris English cenglish@phillyBurbs.com. May 1, 2005 5:00 AM
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Garden of Reflection
Memorial Park, Woodside Road
Lower Makefield, PA
www.9-11memorial
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Posted on Wed, Dec 3, 2008
Volunteers help maintain the Garden of Reflection
By Matthew Fleishman; Yardley News Editor
The Garden of Reflection in Lower Makefield Township was built through the hard work of volunteers, and the maintenance of the garden is no different.
Recently, members of the Princeton, N.J., branch of the Brickman Group spent their "Founders' Day" doing volunteer work at the Garden of Reflection. The group replaced dead trees and plants, while also adding fencing around existing trees to keep deer from eating the bark off of them.
For the Brickman Group, Founders' Day is where members of the company do charitable work in the community to honor the people who started the company more than 70 years ago.
"Our goal here is to just help out the community," said Scott Lieb, Princeton branch manager. "On Founders' Day, we get people that normally work in our offices out in the field to help out with a good cause."
For the last three years, Brickman has volunteered at the Garden of Reflection. In addition to the work done this year, more than 20 workers from the Princeton office planted 135 trees last year, which were donated mostly by the Princeton Nursery, but also from Feeneys and Coles nurseries. In 2006, they donated landscaping material for the entrance way to the Garden.
"A lot of the projects we do are just for one year and then we are done, but here, we are trying to make this an ongoing project," said Lieb. "Every year, we want to come back here to help maintain the beauty of the Garden for future generations."
Ellen Saracini, a Garden of Reflection committee member, said that the work Brickman does each year is vital to the continued progression of the Garden of Reflection.
"We are so appreciative to Brickman and Scott Lieb," said Saracini. "They understand that the needs of the Garden continue through the years, and with their commitment to community, we are a perfect match!"
GARDEN OF REFLECTION UPDATES:
The Garden of Reflection Committee has installed benches in the memorial, which were purchased by community members in memory of a loved one. There are currently five additional people interested in ordering more benches. For more information about ordering a bench in honor of a loved one, visit www.9-11memo-rialgarden.org.
The Garden of Reflection Committee is seeking a donation of daffodils for the current planting season, as well as volunteers to help plant the flowers. The committee would also like to plant bulbs and perennials to add color to the Garden throughout the year, but would need a lot of them to consider starting the project.
The fountains at the Garden of Reflection have been turned off for the winter, but the committee invites the community to visit the Oak Garden arboretum, which features different native oak species. Realty Landscape, which has reduced their fees in a two-year maintenance contract, has gotten grass to grow in the Oak Garden, which was just dirt and weeds two years ago.
The Lower Makefield Township Board of Supervisors has approved the construction of a softball field at the Garden of Reflection.
