Community Mourns Victims Of Bucks County Flooding At Candlelight Vigil

LOWER MAKEFIELD, PA — "None of us will ever fully understand or forget the unfathomable tragedy that struck our families last Saturday," said Paul Sheils during a vigil held Sunday evening to remember the victims of the July 15 flash flood in Upper Makefield.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to all the families, the survivors, and the victims. We feel and share your pain," said Sheils, whose son, Jim and his family were visiting the area from Charleston, South Carolina, when tragedy struck.

Sheils lost his granddaughter, Matilda Sheils, and his soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Katie Seley, in the flood. The search is continuing for his grandson, 9-month-old Conrad, who remains missing after being swept away by the flooding, which struck without warning on Route 532 just to the west of the village of Washington Crossing.

The vigil took place at the 9-11 Garden of Reflection in Lower Makefield to mourn the victims of the flood and to commend the first responders for saving lives and their exhaustive search to find the two missing children - Matilda and Conrad. Matilda was recovered over the weekend in Philadelphia.

The raging waters also claimed the lives of Susan Barnhart of Titusville, N.J., Enzo and Linda DePiero of Newtown Township, and Yuko Love, also of Newtown Township.

"After the 9-11 attacks and despite the valiant efforts by the first responders, many of our loved ones were still missing - a harsh reality for hundreds of families. This made the grieving process even harder," 9-11 widow Ellen Saracini told the gathering. "So we acknowledge how excruciatingly painful it is that we are still searching for Conrad. Our prayers and deep empathy go out to the families and the professionals conducting this search.

"We are grateful to have this place to grieve and to remember the victims of the horrible flood last weekend and to support the families directly affected by this tragedy, some of whom are with us tonight," said 9-11 widow Ellen Saracini.

"What do you say in a circumstance like this where families were going about their daily lives and in a moment, within a matter of minutes, they were separated and precious loving lives were lost," said Pastor Mukesh Cheedie from Redeemer Lutheran Church. "Why did this have to happen? Honestly, I don't have an answer. What I can say is that in the mysteriousness and in the unknowns of life, God promises to be with us always ... Through our first responders, God was present. "Through family members and friends and community leaders who have provided meals and shelter in that moment, God was present. No matter where we are and what we face in life, our loving God is there in our midst."

"This unimaginable tragedy has released a wave of grief and sorrow across our community," said Pastor Doug Hoglund from the Woodside Presbyterian Church. "To the families of the victims, we offer you our hearts and our hugs, our tears, our listening ears, our prayers, our presence, our compassion and our care. We fervently pray that Conrad will be found and brought home."

"We also keep in our prayers those that have experienced this devastating event firsthand and survived," Saracini continued. "We pray for your physical and emotional healing. Just as our community mobilized with support and love following Sept. 11th, we are here now to support all who are grieving. Our hope is that you find solace in the support and love that the community has to offer and that this love can help to begin the healing process."

The vigil continued with spiritual words of healing by Pastor Mukesh Cheedie from Redeemer Lutheran Church and Pastor Doug Hoglund from Woodside Presbyterian Church and a stirring rendition of "Danny Boy" performed by members of the Council Rock High School South Choir, led by Corey Axler.

Tony Cino, the chairman of the Upper Makefield Board of Supervisors, and U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick read the victims' names aloud as first responders lit a torch for each victim symbolizing the garden's motto, "After Darkness, Light."

A torch is lit by a first responder. (photos by Jeff Werner)

Upper Makefield Fire Chief Tim Brewer bows his head in remembrance.

As the torches flickered in the evening air, several survivors spoke to the gathering, sharing their experiences from that tragic evening and commending the many "angels" who came to their rescue.

Dahlia Galindez of South Carolina, who lost her daughter, Katie Seley, and a granddaughter, 2-year-old Matilda Sheils in the flood and whose grandson, Conrad, remains missing, shared the horror-filled moments of that evening with the gathering.

"I got out of the car and the water was up to my shin," she said. "I took a few steps and I was swept under the guardrail with my daughter, Katie, and my granddaughter. One minute it was inches deep. A minute later it was over our heads. It was all muddy. It was all rolling. There was nothing we could do but go with it.

"After being pulled under, I was eventually able to grab onto a tree. Only later did I find out that numerous pieces of debris were in the water. There were sewer pipes. There were pieces of road. There were huge trees being tossed. How I did not get hit by one of them is an absolute miracle. I guess I was meant to stay here for a while. I kind of wanted to be with Katie and the children, but that wasn't my choice."

Dahlia Galindez of South Carolina.

She eventually made her way out of the flood waters and to a nearby house. "I was soaking wet with no shoes and I showed up on my angel's doorstep. How scary to have someone knock on your door and inform them what was happening near their home. They took me in and gave me clothes to wear."

She later found out what Jim, and her grandson, Jack, had experienced back at their car. "They were swept under as well. Jim was able to hold onto the guardrail with his son and stood in those waters for many, many minutes. He told me his shoes looked like they went through a cheese grater. That's the force of this water," she said.

Paul Sheils, who has lived in the Yardley-Newtown area for more than 40 years, commended the first responders and the search and rescue teams from Upper Makefield, Newtown Township, Yardley-Makefield, and surrounding jurisdictions "who reacted quickly and bravely in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions to rescue many people caught in that flash flood but also spent the last eight days conducting the most professionally exhaustive search possible to find our precious Matilda and Conrad.

Paul Sheils, the father of Jim Sheils and grandfather of Matilda and Conrad Sheils.

"Several of us toured the rescue and command center and talked with the extraordinary team leading the search efforts. Believe me when I tell you that every resource possible, including over 100 highly trained professionals, drones, divers, search vessels, advance sonar units, and multiple K9 units were deployed in this massive search effort. No stone was left unturned to bring our precious children home.

"But what surprised and affected me the most about this extraordinary team was their deep emotional involvement in the search," Sheils continued. "This was not just another day at the office for these brave men and women. Many of the rescuers we visited had tears in their eyes when we thanked them. One of them told me why. It was because they were all treating the search as if they were looking for their own children. And it showed," he said. "In our view, these men and women are heroes."

Dave Love, who spoke of his wife, Yuko Love, said simply, "I love you. I am so sorry." He then turned to the first responders and bowed in their direction. "Thank you for all that you did," he said.

The vigil closed with the distribution of red and white carnations to family members, first responders, and to the public. They were invited to place the flowers next to the torches bearing the names of the victims.

"I hope we have been able to show you that you never walk alone," Saracini told the family members. "We will continue praying for you and we offer up our love and our support."