A small group of residents and fire department representatives gathered at the 9/11 memorial on Sunday morning in Manhattan Beach to recognize the 21st anniversary of the tragedy.

Manhattan Beach Fire Captain/Paramedic Tyler Wade led the group in a brief moment of silence at the memorial at 9:11 a.m.

 

While we mourn and honor those victims, Wade said, "Let's live a happy and positive life for those people we lost that day."

In attendance, and in American Airlines uniform, was former American flight attendant Dyan Purser, who had frequently flown the cross-country route of American Flight 11, one of the planes lost on 9/11.

The memorial, designed by the late local architect Patrick Killen with Scott Yanofsky and Steve Oliker, is meant to evoke the structure of the World Trade Center towers as the beams reach skyward. The beams were donated by a local Manhattan Beach resident after 9/11.

Manhattan Beach residents have long felt a deep connection to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attack.

Manhattan Beach resident Chandler "Chad" Keller, age 29, died on 9/11 as one of the passengers of American Flight 11.  Many other Manhattan Beach locals have friends or relatives who perished on that day.

Manhattan Beach Fire Department Captain/Paramedic Tim O'Brien and Engineer/Paramedic Jeff Sanders had both traveled to New York City in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 to assist in rescue efforts.

September 11 is also a significant day in the Manhattan Beach Police Department: It marks the 70th anniversary of the death of the first Manhattan Beach police officer to die in the line of duty, Frederick Grau.