Flag raisings, solemn ceremonies to mark Sept. 11 anniversary in Bucks County

Damon C. Williams, Bucks County Courier Times
·2 min read

The Garden of Reflection 9/11 Memorial in Lower Makefield will host a pair of poignant events to memorialize the victims of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, which claimed 2,973 victims, 18 of whom were from Bucks County.

Many of the 9/11 victims from Bucks County lived in Lower Makefield.

The ceremonies at the Garden of Reflection begin at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11, with a retelling of the chronological events of that day. After the ceremony, visitors will be given the opportunity to visit the memorial and reflect on the gravity of the day and how it forever changed the world.

The evening ceremony begins at 7 and will include guest speakers and musical performances.

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Family members of Bucks County residents who died during the terror attacks, listen to the guest speakers during the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, was held at the Garden of Reflection in Lower Makefield Township, on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.
Family members of Bucks County residents who died during the terror attacks, listen to the guest speakers during the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, was held at the Garden of Reflection in Lower Makefield Township, on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.

What is the Tribute Flag?

Additionally, The Tribute Flag, the only flag that has been flown over all three crash sites — the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and over the field in Shanksville — as well as the Garden of Reflection, will be hoisted and lowered to half-staff and remain in the Flag Circle in Memorial Park through Sept. 11. This gesture begins at 7 p.m. on Friday.

The Memorial Garden of Reflection 9/11 Memorial, dedicated in 2006 to honor those perished in the 9/11 attacks, is Pennsylvania’s official state 9/11 memorial.

Other ceremonies are planned elsewhere in Bucks County:

The Tullytown Fire Company, located at 100 Bordentown Road, will host a 9/11 memorial dedication and ceremony which begins at 7 p.m. Sunday.

The Hartsville Fire Company will also host a 9/11 flag memorial and memorial service Sunday, consisting of a display of 403 American flags on the station's front lawn at 1195 York Road in Warminster.

The flags represent the 343 New York City firefighters, 37 New York Port Authority officers and the 23 New York Police Department officers who died in service on 9/11.

Two additional flags will represent volunteer firefighters John Kulick and Tristan Smith, both of whom were killed in action in Iraq.

The memorial service will then begin at 7 p.m. and will include a reading of the names of the fallen firefighters and police officers.

The Hartsville Fire Company will also open its doors to the public from sunup through sundown for anyone who wishes to stop in.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Garden of Reflection in Lower Makefield to host Sept. 11 services