'Angels' oversaw rescues, survivor says at vigil recounting Delaware River fatal flood

Dahlia Galindez called the Garden of Reflection in Lower Makefleld “a beautiful place of healing” Sunday night as she thanked all the “angels” who helped her and other survivors of the Washington Crossing flood ― even as it took her daughter and two grandchildren, including a baby boy still missing.

The Garden directors sponsored the evening event to honor both the victims and the first responders of the July 15 flood who have worked tirelessly over the past week to assist the survivors and to comfort the families of the six people who died. They did this all while continuing to search for the seventh victim, 9-month-old Conrad Sheils, Galindez’s grandson.

Galindez was in one of two family cars heading to a barbecue when the deluge inundated them. Her daughter, Katie Seley, was one of five adults who died in the flood waters, which overtook a total of 11 vehicles.

Seley’s two youngest children, Matilda “Mattie” Sheils, age 2, and baby Conrad, were still unaccounted for last week but Mattie's body was found Friday night in the Delaware River in Philadelphia. Conrad is still missing as of Monday morning.

The children’s father, Jim Sheils, saved the couple’s oldest son, Jack, 4, and brought him to the the “Night of Community” event along with other relatives. The little boy sat on his father's lap or played quietly with other children in the extended Sheils family during the 90-minute ceremony Sunday night.

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Galindez spoke for several minutes, describing how the water was at her shin one minute.

“I took a few more steps and was swept under the guardrail along with my daughter Katie and grandchildren,” she said. “A couple of minutes later it was over our heads … It was all muddy and rolling. There was nothing we could do but go with it.”

Galindez said Jim Sheils held Jack and they were also swept over a guardrail but the young dad managed to hold on. His shoes later looked like they had been put through “a cheese grater, that’s the forceof this water.”

She eventually was able to grab onto a tree limb and hold on. She said the water had the force of a dam breaking and was filled with debris, “sewer piping, pieces of road, huge trees."

"How I didn’t get hit with one of those was an absolute miracle … I wanted to be with Katie and the children,” she said, taking a deep breath, “but that wasn’t my choice.”

“I was able to make my way to the edge … I was determined. My brother said it was my stubbornness that got me out of there. I didn’t think for a minute I wouldn’t get out … I eventually made my way to a house … I showed up on my angel’s doorstep.”

A couple of hours later another survivor, Dave Love, who had been holding on to a tree limb, was able to climb to the house too. He lost his wife, Yuko Love, in the flood.

Galindez said the fire company sent a truck to the house to get them because an ambulance couldn’t make it through the damaged roads even after the water subsided. They were taken to the command post and she later spent the night in a hospital.

“My biggest injury is my emotional injury,” she said.

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But the healing has begun, she said.

“I want to thank each and everyone who came today. Your community has been phenomenal.” She said she knows there is a God and is surrounded by love.

“Love never dies. It’s bigger than the loss, which is catastrophic," she said.

Galindez said she never realized she would be taught this lesson. She now hopes she can put what she learned in living through this tragedy to good use.

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Ellen Saracini, of Lower Makefield, whose husband, Victor, was a United pilot killed in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, served as master of ceremonies for the vigil Sunday. She said many families of the victims of that attack weren’t sure what happened to their missing relatives, so they realize “how excruciatingly painful it is that we are still searching for Conrad.”

Paul Sheils, Jim’s father, said it’s a great consolation to his family to know that this tragedy “has touched the hearts of people around the world and there are millions and millions of loving, caring, prayerful and compassionate people in this troubled world of ours.”

Dave Love attended the event with his arm in a cast and sling. He choked up as he bowed in honor of his wife and thanked the first aid workers.

Two pastors, Mukesh Cheedie of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Penndel, and Doug Hoglund, of Woodside Presbyterian Church in Lower Makefield, both offered advice for those who may question why bad things can happen and prayers for those affected.

“We ask, God, that you will bring us comfort and strength because you are always truly near to the brokenhearted,” Cheedie said. “Truly there is light after darkness.”

The Council Rock High School South Choir sang “Danny Boy,” in honor of the deceased before those in attendance were given flowers to place near candles lit for each of the victims.

Valerie Mihalek, who directs the Garden’s programming, said she was grateful for the floral donations and the choir coming together on short notice during the summer school break for the event.

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A 'lovely' ceremony to remember flood victim, thank first responders

“I thought it was absolutely lovely," said Zack DePiero, who lost both his parents, Enzo and Linda DePiero, in the flood.

Several other area residents who came out to pay their respects to the victims and the first responders agreed.

Upper Makefield fire Chief Tim Brewer, who supervised the search and recovery efforts, didn’t speak during the ceremony but said afterward an average of 50 to 85 first responders have been searching each day for the children and will continue searching for Conrad again Monday on land and in the river as soon as its current slows to allow for a safe search.

“The river will dictate the next step,” he said.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Delaware River flood victims, rescuers honored at Bucks County vigil