Time Passes, But Memories Of Local 9/11 Victims Remembered

For Lower Makefield Township resident Tara Bane, Sunday marked 21 years since the light of her life, her husband Michael Andrew Bane, was extinguished.

At the Garden of Reflection memorial in township, the trees planted in memory of the victims have grown taller as the years have gone. Bane acknowledged that meant time has continued to move forward.

“I used to think: ‘why me?’” she said.

Now, she see there has been other tragedies and sadness to others from other sources.

Tara Bane speaking on Sunday.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

The 21 years since she last saw her husband, who was 33 years old when he died, has seen her view of his death mature. She has made an effort to look at life through the lens of remembering the good memories and positive thoughts.

“I, at times, struggle with this, but it’s about finding balance,” she said.

Bane and other family members of the 18 Bucks Countians who died in the attacks gathered Sunday morning to mark their loved ones’ passing.

Bells tolled for each of the victims and the times the planes slammed into the World Trade Centers, an empty field in Somerset County, and the Pentagon.

Ross Manders, the pastor at Restoration Church in Falls Township, told those at Sunday morning’s memorial to not think of the bad, but to recall the love in the wake of tragedy and share it.

“Remember, oh God, the families whose lives will never be the same,” said Rabbi Anna Boswell-Levy, of Congregation Kol Emet in Lower Makefield Township.

Following the ceremony, roses were placed next to the names of the local victims.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a candidate for governor; Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick; State Sen. Steve Santarsiero; State Rep. Perry Warren; State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta; and Bucks County Prothonotary Judi Reiss, whose son died in the attacks, were among the local dignitaries in attendance.