9/11 marked in Middletown, N.J., town that had the most people killed in the attacks outside of NYC

The tragedy of 9/11 hit one New Jersey community harder than any other.

Middletown had 37 residents killed in the attacks, more than any other town outside the five boroughs.

“They raised families here, they coached our children, they worshiped in our churches, they rode the train and they walked our neighborhoods. They were ours,” Middletown Mayor Tony Perry said.

At the Middletown World Trade Center Memorial Gardens, there’s a winding brick path with 37 stone memorials paying tribute to the Middletown residents who perished on Sept. 11, 2001. It’s located right by the train station, which was the last place many of the victims saw of their home before heading out to work on that fateful day.

Longtime residents passed through the memorial Friday to reflect and remember the people who were killed.

Thirty-seven people killed on Sept. 11, 2001, are memorialized at the Middletown World Trade Center Memorial Gardens in New Jersey.

CBS News New York

“It’s a very quiet, serene place,” Middletown resident Suan Halle said. “How could I not be here? I’ve lived in Middletown for 40 years. We lost 37 good residents, many of them members of my church at Saint Mary’s. And I come every year.”

Many Middletown residents knew someone who was killed.

“Big town. Small big town, though. Everybody’s close. Everybody knows somebody. We lost a neighbor. He lost a colleague from his company. Our daughter, her classmate lost a parent. So everybody kind of knew somebody,” Sandy McKechnie said.

Sandy and Scott McKechnie lived in Middletown for decades, and now reside in North Carolina. They returned for a special service held Friday night.

“We wanted to be here for this and see some people we haven’t seen in a while. And just kind of be a part of it,” McKechnie said.

“An entire generation has grown up with no memory of September 11th, so we must teach them,” the mayor said.

Middletown’s World Trade Center Memorial Gardens have received significant upgrades, giving 9/11 families and the entire community a place to honor those who died, and hold true to Middletown’s promise to never forget.

Remembering 9/11 – 25 Years Later

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