'New Beginning' at The Garden of Reflection

It was a bittersweet day at The Garden of Reflection, Bucks County’s memorial honoring the victims of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.  Loved ones of the deceased and members of the public visited the Garden in the wake of the news that Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the attacks that claimed 2,973 lives, was killed.

When Newtown resident Skip Gittens got the news late Sunday night that Osama bin Laden was killed, he grabbed a new flag from his attic. Just hours later, that flag was up at the Garden to pay tribute to the victims. 

Early today, Gittens, who is the public relations director for the Garden of Reflection, joined two family members of the deceased and two uniformed state police in a ceremony raising the new flag.

The new flag is up just for today, Gittens said. “It’s a new beginning at the top," he said.

While television news crews outnumbered members of the public at the early morning ceremony, Gittens said he expects more residents and survivors of loved ones to come by the Garden later in the day to pay respects and reflect.  “This is a tough day,” he said.

Eighteen Bucks County residents were killed in the attacks. The Garden of Reflection, located in Lower Makefield, was dedicated in 2006 to honor those victims and all who paid the ultimate price that sunny September day. Fragments of the World Trade Center and a large fountain are just some of the features of the memorial, which was designed by Yardley architect Liuba Lashchyk.

Gittens said he heard the news of bin Laden's death late Sunday. “My daughter woke me up at 11. I went back to sleep,” Gittens said. “I honestly thought he was already dead.”

However, in the morning after some time to reflect, Gittens said he had mixed emotions. “On one hand, we’re glad he’s eliminated from society, but no one likes to kill anyone.”

Newtown resident Bill Mahler stopped by the Garden of Reflection Monday afternoon. He said he heard the news while watching the Phillies game Sunday night. He heard the chants of "U.S.A, U.S.A." from the fans and was getting alerts on Twitter, so he turned the news on.

“It’s certainly a day of reflection, and while it’s a positive thing, it doesn’t end terrorism,” Mahler said.

Holland resident Joe Keffer said in light of the news, he stopped at the Garden of Reflection during his morning bike ride. He said there were a number of people paying tribute at the fountain, plus several members of the media.

"I am hopeful that the families of the victims of 9-11 can take some solace from these events. I don't know what closure is. People use that term an awful lot. One death never eases the pain of another, but perhaps families can feel some relief from a perceived justice,” Keffer said.

He added that he hopes the news means the beginning of the end to the war in Afghanistan. “The end of the war on terror may be a long way away, but it seems like now it may be a more CIA-based operation that a Pentagon-based one,” Keffer said.