On Independence Day, a memorial was dedicated in Grapevine, Texas (Hat tip to Pajamas Media):

On July 4, 2008, just outside of Dallas/Ft Worth International Airport, the first national memorial to 9/11 heroes was dedicated. Shirley Hall, who is a Flight Attendant and the Vice President of the 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial Foundation, explained the memorial sculpture’s symbolism:

“A stone column rises to support a large globe, as we all know the aviation industry spans the world. The impressive eagles, a national symbol of freedom, represent both airlines, American and United that lost flights that morning.

“The Captain stands at the highest point, his copilot to his right, as it is on the airplane. The Captain is charged with the responsibility of protecting passengers, fellow crewmembers and the aircraft.

“The First Officer is alert, his safety manual in hand, pointing to the western horizon, the intended destination of all four flights. Back-to-back placement of the Flight Attendants to the Cockpit Crew shows the teamwork of all flight crews, especially now — post 9/11.

“The young girl with her teddy bear represents the traveling public. She is the family on their big vacation, the newlyweds on honeymoon, the grandmother on her very first flight, the weary businessman and unfortunately now… she is the soldier off to war.

“The role best known by the general flying public is portrayed by the male Flight Attendant. He drapes a blanket around the small child. His duties show a commitment to passenger care and service.

“Indicative of her role as a safety professional, the female Flight Attendant stands in the protected position: her hand held in the International sign for “stop”, shielding her passenger from harm.

“The 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial is dedicated to the 33 flight crewmembers that were lost and all the crewmembers that courageously continue to be the ever-vigilant professionals of the airline industry."

The Pajamas Media article notes:

Men and women for whom the attack on airplanes was deeply and intensely personal built this memorial. It was the vision of Valerie Thompson, an American Airlines flight attendant with 20 years seniority, for whom the 9/11 attacks were a call to action to build a permanent remembrance to her colleagues and to honor all those aviation professionals whose lives changed forever on September 11. Her husband, Dean Thompson, sculpted the one-and-a-half-life-sized bronze figures adapted from an original design by Bryce Cameron Liston.

The 18-foot structure is situated on the outskirts of Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport, where a steady flow of commercial jetliners in their final landing approach can be seen in the distance, adding a living reminder of what we lost and what continues to be an object of terrorist obsession.

In Memorium:

American Airlines Flight # 11
Captain John Ogonowski - First Officer Thomas McGuinness
Flight Attendants: Barbara Arestegui - Jeffrey Collman
Sara Low - Karen Martin - Kathleen Nicosia - Betty Ong
Jean Roger - Dianne Snyder - Amy Sweeney

United Airlines Flight # 175
Captain Victor Saracini - First Officer Michael Horrocks
Flight Attendants: Robert J Fangman - Amy N Jarret
Amy R King - Kathryn L Laborie - Alfred G Marchand
Michael C Tarrou - Alicia N Titus

American Airlines Flight # 77
Captain Charles Burlingame III - First Officer David Charlebois
Flight Attendants: Michele Heidenberger - Jennifer Lewis
Kenneth Lewis - Renee May

United Airlines Flight # 175
Captain Jason Dahl - First Officer LeRoy Homer
Flight Attendants: Lorraine Bay - Sandra Bradshaw
Wanda Green - Cee Cee Lyles - Deborah Welsh

It's July 15th and this is the first time I've heard of this. It's a very stirring memorial to the people who were America's first line of defense on that sunny, dark day.

Quote du jour:

“To our heroes: first taken, last remembered, now honored.”

Shirley Hall, July 4, 2008

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