Flight Crew Memorial Foundation to Dedicate Memorial on July 4 in Grapevine

On July 4, 2008, a public ceremony will be held in Grapevine, Texas at the Intersection of State Highway 26 and Texan Trail in the Grapevine Station Mall.

Scheduled to begin at 10 A.M CST, the memorial board and the city of Grapevine have issued an open invitation to the public to attend this event and honor those who fought terrorism and lost their lives in the skies above the nation on 9/11.

The memorial statue, designed by Bryce Cameron Liston of Salt Lake City, Utah and titled VALOR - COMMITMENT - DEDICATION, is a bronze image of a captain, first officer, male and female flight attendants, and a child passenger. The pilot is standing with his hand upon a globe (symbolic of the world-wide coverage of the airline industry) with two eagles (representing the two airlines that lost flight crews that day). There is a great deal of symbolism built into the memorial, and certainly each individual that views it will have new or different interpretations of some aspects.

According to the foundation's web site, the memorial will be visible from aircraft traveling to and from Dallas/Fort Worth International airport on the north approach and departure path.

The 18 foot tall sculpture took approximately two years to complete.

While numerous memorials have already been designed, built, and dedicated to the tragedy of 9/11 and those who proved themselves to be American heros that day, the unique placement of this one and it's purpose specifically to honor the bravery of flight crews as a reminder for those who pass above it sets it apart. Those who have supported this particular memorial have expressed a deep belief that the crew members on those planes participated, probably physically, in some of the battles within the cockpits and passenger areas to limit the damage and lives taken by the terrorists.

The emotions it will create for passengers and crews as they fly over it will certainly be varied.

American Airlines flight attendant Valerie Thompson and her husband, Dean Thompson, initiated the flight crew memorial project six years ago. The couple who envisioned and began the process of bring the memorial to reality will speak at the ceremony, which will also include a fly-over. Other planned attendees will be family members of some of the 33 flight crew members whose lives were cut short on September 11.

The estimated cost of the memorial and its small park area is one-million dollars, all raised by donations and a solitary government grant provided by the city of Grapevine, Texas.

The ceremony will undoubtedly be one of solemn reflection and I will attend for the purpose of sharing the experience with my readers who do not live in the Grapevine area.

Stay tuned, it will be an emotional ride.

You can find more information by contacting the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau at 817-410-3185 or 800-457-6338 or visiting www.GrapevineTexasUSA.com/911flightcrewmemorial