At somber ceremony, Bucks County and area residents remember loved ones lost in 9/11 attacks

BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A blue sky — not a cloud in sight. Many noted this Wednesday morning was just like the Tuesday morning 23 years ago that changed the world .

Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 people were killed, including 18 Bucks County residents.

“You know, I just try to live my life remembering that it is precious and I want to savor it as much as I can while I deal with my grief and my feelings for Michael. I miss him dearly,” said Tara Bane.

Her husband, 33-year-old Michael Bane, of Yardley, was one of the 18 residents honored at a somber and emotional remembrance ceremony Wednesday at the Garden of Reflection in Lower Makefield.

Judi Reiss lost her 23-year-old son Joshua Reiss. Her life, she says, fell apart.

“I was incapable of making a meal,” she said. “I was incapable of taking care of my 11-year-old daughter.”

But Judi says she got strength from those around her who lifted her entire family up.

“We live in an awesome community. I cannot begin to tell you about Bucks County and Lower Makefield.”

During the ceremony, the names of other area natives who were killed in the attacks, like Elsie Caldwell’s son, were read.

Elsie says her son, Kenneth M. Caldwell, 30, of Philadelphia, called her that morning 23 years ago and said he loved her.

“And then all of a sudden he said, ‘I gotta get out of here because there’s a bomb.’ They didn’t really know what was going on. And click he was gone. And I never talked to him again and they never found him,” Elsie said.

She says they have been able to persevere because that’s what Kenneth would have wanted.

And her message to those who will listen: “Always continue to pray for us and pray for each other. And just don’t get sour on the world.”