Community played a huge factor in Monday’s memorial service held at San Francisco International Airport. The service was for the flight crew members who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of Sept.11, 2001.

“Today was a service to memorialize the frontline heroes that lost their lives that day,” said Heather Lauter-Clay, lead organizer of the 9-11 Remembrance Service and United Airlines flight attendant. “We have all joined as one today to honor them together as an airline community, but it goes beyond just the people who work for the airlines. The passengers are a part of our community, too.”

About 50 attendees came to pay tribute to the lives lost on Sept. 11. Airline employees and friends and family of some of the flight attendants who had fallen victim to the attacks were present.

“There must have been more to her life,” said Cathie Ong, sister of Betty Ong, who was a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11.

Reflecting on Betty’s life, Cathie took time to say that not only was Betty her sister, but she was also her best friend. She said this makes it even more difficult to let go.

“There is no such thing as first, second, third, fourth, or fifth remembrance service,” said Ong. “Everyday is a remembrance for us.”

During the ceremony, which lasted about an hour, there were many speakers and many tears.

During Deacon Leon Kortenkamp’s prayer, tears rolled down Stephanie Steinkraus’s face.

“The service was really beautiful,” said Steinkraus, a flight attendant for United Airlines. “I helped volunteer to put it together, and one of my jobs was to pick out the flowers for the service. Traditionally, I was told that you should pick white flowers for a memorial, but I felt I didn’t want the flowers to represent mourning. Instead, I wanted the flowers to be a remembrance of life.”

The message of life after the attacks was present through the entire service. The speakers emphasized that they were happy to have been graced with their loved ones’ friendships while they were still here.

There were stories told about the airline employees who were victims of the attacks. Most were funny, but all of them shared one common theme: a reflection of the positive things that came out of their lives before they died.

“The message of life was transcended at today’s service,” said Steinkraus. “It felt good, if it can feel good.”

Another member of the airline community, Steve Edgar, who is a pilot for United Airlines, as well as Secretary and Treasurer of the ALPA, Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, Council 34, shared a few special thoughts about his fellow pilots, as well as the other attendants that were being honored.

”Most people think that the men in uniform that were on the frontline at the start of the war on terror were wearing camouflage,” said Edgar. “But the men on the frontline were the aviators on 9-11.”

Besides flight attendants, pilots, and airline personnel, other key players in the airline community are the non-profit organizations that help make these ceremonies, and aid to victims of 9-11 possible.

One organization, the Airline Ambassadors, which has more than 6000 members, has a special place in the hearts of airline employees and the members of the airline community, said Natalie Mattrazzo, membership and youth program director for the Airline Ambassadors.

“Our organization gave out six million dollars last year alone,” Mattrazzo said. “We help the victims, and families of victims who have been through disaster sights. We get children of victims to orphanages, or get them whatever they need.”

The Airline Ambassadors, founded in 1996, have helped to serve families and children of airline families who have endured a disaster or terrorist situation. It is all made possible through their members, who are generally members of the airline community, however anyone can join.