BY TOM HAYDON for The Star-Ledger - They walked in groups of two and threes, each person carrying a candle as they slowly passed through the township Memorial Garden to honor the 37 residents killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks 15 years ago.

"No one remembers the horror of that day more than the families of the victims," Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th Dist) reminded the audience.

More than 300 people participated in the solemn candlelight walk as a bagpiper played "Amazing Grace" at the conclusion of the municipality's memorial ceremony.

For the memorial held outside of the municipal building, ladders were extended high above two fire department ladder trucks to suspend a more than 30-foot long American flag.

Bagpiper Michael Hannigan stood in front of the flag playing behind the hushed crowd seated on the lawn.

At the beginning of the ceremony, members of the St. Mary Roman Catholic Church Choir sang the National Anthem.

Middletown lost more residents per capita than any other municipality in New Jersey.

"The wounds inflicted on our nation will never heal," Middletown Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger said. "These families have been robbed the celebrations of milestones in the lives," he said.

Scharfenberger said it is the responsibility of all the people "to endure that future generations remain imbued with the memory of these victims."

This story originally ran on page three of the Sept. 12, 2016 print edition of the Star Ledger and can be found in its original form at:

http://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2016/09/hundreds_light_candles_to_remember_middletown_resi.html