Hundreds of runners, walkers, families, and supporters came together on Sunday, September 14, for the 23rd annual 9/11 Memorial Garden of Reflection 5K Run/Walk. The event honored the 24th anniversary of September 11 while raising funds to preserve the memorial for future generations.
More than 200 participants had registered in advance, and with walk-ups on race morning, approximately 250 took part in the 5K, which started and finished inside the Garden of Reflection. The course wound through nearby neighborhoods with the assistance of Lower Makefield Township police officers, while the one-mile fun run kept participants on the grounds of the memorial itself.
For many, the race was more than just another athletic event. It served as both a remembrance and a fundraiser, with all proceeds going directly to the Remembrance Fund endowment. The fund, managed under the nonprofit 9-11 Memorial Garden of Reflection, Inc., ensures the memorial’s upkeep in perpetuity.
“This race is about community,” said Ellen Saracini, founder of the Remembrance Fund and board chair of the nonprofit. Saracini, of Lower Makefield, is the widow of Victor J. Saracini, captain of United Airlines Flight 175, the plane that struck the South Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11. “The Garden stands as a place of honoring and remembering. It’s peaceful, and it’s where people can come to learn about or reflect on what happened that day, 24 years ago. We love bringing the community together for that purpose.”
Saracini explained that while the memorial began as a tribute to the nine Lower Makefield residents lost on September 11, it soon expanded to recognize all 18 Bucks County residents and, eventually, the nearly 3,000 people killed that day. Every detail of the Garden carries meaning: nine red maples for Lower Makefield’s nine victims, 18 forest pansies for Bucks County’s 18, and 42 ground lights symbolizing the Pennsylvania children who lost a parent.
“It’s a living memorial,” Saracini said. “Nobody my age forgets what happened, but for the younger generation, who weren’t even born, this is where they learn about respect, remembrance, and honoring.”
Race director David Willard, who has overseen the event for the past six years, said participation has typically ranged between 200 and 300 runners. “We officially time the 5K, give out awards, and have age groups starting as young as eight and under, going all the way up to 80 and above,” Willard said. “The one-mile fun run isn’t timed; it’s just for enjoyment, and families really embrace that.”
This year’s race drew two large groups of young runners: the Lower Makefield Youth Running Club and Princeton Day School’s cross-country team,
Willard said that while the competition element is important for some, many come for the cause. “It’s more than just a fun run,” he said. “It truly has purpose. A lot of people come because they want to support the memorial and remember those who lost their lives, especially the Bucks County residents who lived right here in our community.”
As always, the event carried a mix of solemn reflection and community celebration. Before and after the race, many participants walked the memorial grounds, pausing at the glass panels etched with the names of every life lost on 9/11 and gathering at the reflection pool and fountains.
Saracini emphasized that 100 percent of funds raised benefit the endowment. “There are no paid positions in our organization,” she said. “Everything goes back to sustaining this memorial. That’s what makes this race so heartfelt. People aren’t just running for exercise; they’re running for purpose.”
For Willard, the event also held personal significance. On the morning of September 11, 2001, he was in the air when his plane was unexpectedly diverted to Chicago. “I was fortunate to return home,” he said. “Many others flying that day were not. That motivates me to give back.”
The 9/11 Memorial Garden of Reflection has become more than just a remembrance site. Over the years, it has served as a gathering place for moments of loss and reflection beyond 9/11, cementing its role as a centerpiece for the Lower Makefield community.
“The Garden is where history and memory live on,” Saracini said. “And this race keeps that legacy alive.”
