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Garden Helps Family Share Grief & Healing

Story Published: Sep 11, 2009 at 4:56 PM EDT

Story Updated: Sep 11, 2009 at 6:49 PM EDT

A Gouverneur family marked the eighth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks Friday by remembering people who lost their lives, including soldiers who died fighting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Dr. Robert Saidel and his wife, Rita, created a memorial garden in front of their home on Route 11 in the village in memory of their son, Ryan, who died from cancer in February 2004.

The Saidels placed stones bearing the names of people who passed away that had known Ryan or influenced him in some way.

Last spring, the couple heard that 1st Lieutenant Robert Seidel, a 23 year old Fort Drum soldier, died May 18 in Iraq when his humvee was struck by a roadside bomb.

Because the soldier shared Dr. Seidel's name, the couple decided to create a special memorial for the lieutenant, which includes an engraved stone, Army helmet, boots and rifle.

The Saidels even reached out to Lt. Seidel's family in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

The two families have met and are now close friends.

Not only are they united in their grief over losing sons, they also try to help each other heal.

"It doesn't matter how you lose someone whether it's through 9/11, whether it's through someone in the military, if you are connected in some way," said Rita Saidel.

Lt. Robert Seidel was a rifle platoon leader with the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment. 

He was a 2004 graduate of West Point and planned to go into the U.S. Army Special Forces after his deployment ended in August 2009. 

The garden also has signs in it thanking all Fort Drum soldiers for their service.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
, Watertown, NY

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