GRAPEVINE, Texas—Hundreds of people gathered in the North Texas heat Friday to dedicate a memorial honoring the pilots and flight attendants who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Guests, many of them relatives of the fallen flight crew members, listened to bagpipes and patriotic songs, speeches about heroism and prayers during the ceremony on the Fourth of July. They were there for the dedication of a 18-foot-high bronze memorial sculpture depicting a child—representing the traveling public—being cared for by two flight attendants and two pilots, who don the uniforms that American Airlines and United Airlines crews wore in 2001.

American Airlines flight attendant Valerie Thompson, one of the memorial’s organizers, said the project was designed to honor crew members whose efforts to stop the hijackers and alert authorities she believes have been mostly overlooked.

“We don’t necessarily think of flight crews as first responders and they were really the very first responders in uniform that day to die in the line of duty,” said Thompson, founder of the 9-11 Flight Crew Memorial Foundation, which spearheaded the $1 million public monument and plaza project.

Thompson said the foundation raised about $300,000 of the cost in a grassroots effort which consisted of numerous $1 and $5 donations. The city of Grapevine and a developer donated the land and labor for the project.

In all, 33 airline crew members were killed when terrorists hijacked and crashed two American Airlines flights and two United Airlines flights on Sept. 11, 2001.

Their names were read aloud in a roll call, punctuated by the somber beat of a bass drum.

As he admired the sculpture, Marty Fangman, 59, of Keller, whose brother was a flight attendant on the fatal United Airlines Flight No. 175, praised the effort.

“It was a long time coming but they did an excellent job,” Fangman said, adding that he hopes organizers are able to raise the additional funds needed to add a water feature to complete the memorial.

Fangman’s brother, Robert “Bobby” Fangman, 33, had been a flight attendant for about a year, having quit his “routine, dull” but high-paying job in telecommunications for the lure of the skies.

The youngest of seven, “he was vibrant, enthusiastic and loved life,” Fangman said.

His mother, Ruth Fangman, 81, of Claymont, Del., said the monument honoring the flight crews was needed.

“I think a lot of people in New York that were killed kind of blame the airlines, you know, crashing into their buildings,” Ruth Fangman said.

“But this is such a special tribute and I know that Bobby will be smiling down saying, ’You go, mom!’ He’d always tell me, ’Mom, get on a plane every day. Go someplace.’ It’s still the safest way to travel,” she said.

Mike Low, 65, flew in from North Arkansas to attend the ceremony. He wore a photo of his daughter, Sara Low, 28, on a chain around his neck. A Department of Justice lapel pin from a U.S. attorney who prosecuted some of the hijackers was attached to the corner of the picture of the smiling young woman.

Sara Low had been an American Airlines flight attendant for three years before she died on 9-11.

“It’s an emotional thing,” her father said, adding that he was “exceedingly pleased” by the memorial and the persistence and talent of those who created it.

The memorial sits at the intersection of two major streets in Grapevine, home to many airline employees stationed at nearby Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Although the flight crews were based in Boston, Washington and New York, Thompson, said it was fitting that the memorial be in Grapevine.

“We felt the passion here as much as anybody else in the system,” she said.

Her husband, Dean Thompson, who sculpted the work in an aircraft hangar, said the tragic events caused the airline community to come together “to form a brotherhood” much like those of firefighters and police.

Shirley Hall, vice president of the 9-11 Flight Crew Memorial Foundation, spoke of the memorial’s symbolism, saying it represents the valor, dedication and commitment flight crews demonstrate each day. She told the audience to remember that “the site is on sacred ground.

“Walk quietly, speak softly, pray if you will, cry if you must, but always look to the skies,” Hall said. “To our heroes: first taken, last remembered, now honored.”