On the one-year anniversary of the catastrophic flash floods that claimed seven lives in Upper Makefield Township, the community came together to remember the victims and honor the first responders who braved the deadly flooding on July 15 last year.
A memorial service was held Monday evening at The Crossing Church near Washington Crossing.
The crowd was made up of the families of the deceased, the rescuers who responded to the calls for help, and locals who wanted to mourn and remember.
The event reflected on the events caused by the severe flooding along Houghs Creek and looked to the future.
Those remembered were Newtown Township residents Enzo De Piero, 78, and Linda De Piero, 74; Susan Barnhart, 53, from Titusville, New Jersey; Katheryn “Katie” Seley, 32, from Charleston, South Carolina; Yuko Love, 64, also of Newtown Township; and Seley’s children, Matilda “Mattie” Sheils, 2, and Conrad Sheils, 9 months, whose body was never recovered.
Zack De Piero, who lost both his parents in the flood, expressed gratitude for the community’s outpouring of support for him, his wife, Sabira, and his daughter.
“We had a goliath-sized love for one another,” he said. “This took us down on both of our knees and you helped us get back up.”
The son, husband, and father recalled writing a message in his parent’s house: “Be thankful for what you had and what you continue to have.”
“I wanted to be able to see that every time I walk into their house and every time I leave their house,” said DePiero, who lives in New Hope. “And, I think about that every day, and it helps it helps a lot and it’s true.”
He added: “I’m extremely thankful for what I had and for what I continue to have.”
David Love, who lost his wife Yuko, alternated between Japanese and English as he reminisced about her intelligence, grace, and ability to cook up a tasty meal from her homeland of Japan.
“Yuko enriched my life,” he said. “I am now much poorer.”
Love stated: “Yuko, I love you… Yuko, I miss you… I am sorry that I did not protect you.”
Paul Sheils, of Newtown, who lost his daughter-in-law and two grandchildren, thanked both the community and the emergency responders for their support and the efforts to locate his missing family members.
“We lost three of the seven victims,” Sheils told the crowd.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
He added: “I suspect none of us will ever fully understand or forget the unfathomable tragedy that struck our family and the other families last year. I know I won’t. However, the remarkable outpouring of support prayers and well wishes from around the country. Indeed, around the world. As you know, it was an international news event. And especially this caring and compassionate Upper Makefield community has greatly helped our family better bear this.”
George Clash, the lead pastor at The Crossing Church, told the crowd to remember those who were lost and say their names.
“They’re not forgotten,” he said. “We remember each one of them.”
“Tonight, we remember each one of them – the light that they were, the love that they gave, and the impact that they had on each one of us, even though many of us never knew them,” the pastor said. “This tragedy is something that is still very present in our hearts and in our minds and especially here.”
Plaques were presented to Upper Makefield Fire Company Battalion Chief Dave Wise; Officer Harry Vitello; and Township Supervisor Tom Cino, to recognize their service.
The Sheils family also donated a plaque to the local police department that highlighted the compassion shown during and after the flood.
Clash said the church, which was a command post in the wake of the fatal flooding, is planning a prayer garden to remember the victims.
Plans are underway to establish a memorial butterfly garden in Brownsburg Park to honor the victims, and the Washington Crossing Post Office is being renamed after Susan Barnhart, a well-liked employee who perished in the flooding.
Reporting Intern Christian Grosso contributed to this article.
