Tributes In Bucks County Unite Families After Death Of Osama Bin Laden
LOWER MAKEFIELD, Pa. (CBS) -- Two tributes held in Bucks County united family and friends whose hearts are still healing.
At a memorial designed to allow the community to reflect and remember, personal tributes preceded a candle-light vigil.
Dozens gathered to pay their respects and express their relief upon learning Osama Bin Laden was dead.
William Kelly lost his son, Billy. Kelly told Eyewitness News, "It's a relief. Not just for the American people but for the people in the world."
Kelly was among the dozens out in Lower Makefield at the Garden of Reflection where families honored their lost loved ones with a prayer and a rose ceremony.
Kathleen Hamilton is Billy's sister, "I just hope everyone can gain peace from here on in."
Also in Bucks County, in Doylestown, the family of Marine 1st Lt. Travis Manion killed in Iraq in 2007 held their annual fundraiser for The Travis Manion Foundation.
The Manions were joined by hundreds of community members and supporters who came out to commemorate the fallen heroes and raise money for the wounded veterans and their families.
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Tom Manion, Travis' Father said, "It is surreal almost for us. The timing was something else."
The annual event was planned well before Bin Laden's death made the news. Retired Major Anthony Smith with the U.S. Army called the news satisfying but noted the war on terror was far from over.
Maj. Smith said, "Even though we ended that mission with Osama. There are still people out there defending this country still in harm's way. We have to keep those guys in prayer."
Maj. Smith was wounded in 2004 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His call for continued prayers was echoed by so many family and friends whose lives were forever changed on September 11, 2001.
Reported by Elizabeth Hur, CBS 3
