Alfred Marchand, 44, of Alamogordo, N.M., was a flight attendant with United Airlines. Marchand enlisted in the military after graduating from Shanley High School in Fargo, N.D. A year later, he left the service, when his father died, and became a police officer in New Mexico. He spent 21 years in law enforcement.

He loved his job - Alamogordo Department of Public Safety Lt. Theo Livingston arranges flowers dropped off in front of DPS Tuesday following the announcement that former ADPS Lt. Al Marchand was on the American Airlines Flight 175 that crashed into the second World Trade Center tower Tuesday morning.

Amid all the emotional chaos, anger, fear and frustration of Tuesday's events in New York City and Washington, D.C., a pang of shock reached all the way to Alamogordo.

Al Marchand, 21-year member of the Alamogordo Department of Public Safety, was on United Airlines Flight 175 that crashed into the World Trade Center Tuesday morning.

Marchand, 44, retired from the DPS on March 3, 2001. He joined the department on Feb. 19, 1980, was certified a public safety officer on Nov. 13, 1980, then was promoted to sergeant on Oct. 26, 1987.

After retiring, Marchand took the job as a flight attendant with United.

With his long service and many contacts, Marchand touched many lives in Alamogordo. DPS Lt. Theo Livingston called him friend for 17 years.

"He was a dear family friend and a close friend to many," Livingston said. "He was my training officer along with many others he trained over the years. Our sons grew up together."