Talking with kids about what happened on September 11 is emotional and challenging. Often it is helpful to have a backdrop of a monument or book to start the subject.
If you are in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, check out the 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial in Grapevine.
9/11 Flight Crew Memorial
A touching tribute to the horrific events that occurred on September 11, 2001 lies in the heart of the metroplex. Â The 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial in Grapevine, Texas lies right underneath the north flight path of the DFW International Airport. Â It’s the perfect place for it really.
My children and I visited this memorial this summer and it was a great place to talk to the children about what happened on September 11.
Dedicated to the professionals who crewed the 2 American Airlines flights and 2 United Airlines flights, the bronze sculpture that sits in the center of the memorial has 2 pilots, 2 flight attendants, and one child (who represents the traveling public). Â The names of the 33 crew members are engraved on the base.
The memorial also features a piece of steel girder that was from one of the World Trade Center towers and a stone from the crash site at Shanksville, PA and the Pentagon.
But the most interesting thing about the memorial for my children was learning the meaning of the sculpture. Â We enjoyed reading about all the details, such as the flight attendant placing the blanket around the shoulders of the child, representing a commitment to passenger care and service. Also, the crew is situated all facing a different direction, North, South, East, & West – representing a compass rose.
It is a beautiful and touching tribute and a great place to visit with your family this upcoming September 11.
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