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.

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."

Marchand leaves behind his mother, his wife, Rebecca or Becky, his son Josh, 20, and two stepsons, Dakota Hale, 16, and Tray Hale, 12.

Marchand was a highly decorated officer. Among his commendations were:

* Officer of the Year, 1982

* Combat Cross

* Three Exceptional Duty Awards

* Five Honorable Service Awards

* Five Grand Cordon Citations

* Director's Commendation

On July 1, 1990, Marchand became the first agent assigned to the newly formed Otero County Narcotics Enforcement Unit (NEU).

"He and Ted Eldridge were the first ones on it," said Otero County Sheriff John Lee. "We've all known Al for many years. He was a fellow officer, a good friend."

On Dec. 10, 1993, Marchand was promoted to lieutenant. He commanded two patrol shifts.

A release from the DPS characterized Marchand as a man with people skills and an out-going personality.

"The only drawback to his new career was being away from his family for extended periods," the release stated. "He had hoped to use his skills as an interpreter to travel to France with United Airlines."

New Mexico Rep. Terry Marquardt (R-Dist. 53), from Otero County, was shocked at the news. Marquardt, currently in Santa Fe for the redistricting process, was saddened that an act so far away has such a local impact because of one man, a man many knew, called a friend, and loved.

"I know that all of Alamogordo's prayers are with his family right now," Marquardt said.

Yesterday afternoon, Marquardt honored Marchand in the Roundhouse.

"I am sponsoring a memorial honoring him in the House of Representatives," Marquardt said.

Likewise, Sen. Dianna Duran (R-Dist. 40) sponsored a joint Senate-House memorial. She knows the Marchand family.

"I told the Senate we had lost one of our own from Alamogordo," Duran said. "He was someone that we would always remember. He was a good guy, a good guy to remember."

Duran did talk, on the telephone, with Becky Marchand. Duran said Becky Marchand characterized her husband as a man who was "surrounded by children (and) acting like a clown."

Richard Coltharp, Alamogordo Daily News publisher, recalled Marchand's professionalism.

"I remember one particularly tragic accident scene at Indian Wells and Florida," Coltharp said. "Marchand was the officer in charge, and he handled the incident with grace. On one side, he was working with a badly injured victim and her distraught family. On the other side, he was working with an obviously drunk driver. He handled each side the way it needed to be handled - very tough on one hand, and very tender on the other."

Staff Writer Michael Shinabery's reporting beats crossed paths numerous times with Marchand. In 1996, he covered Marchand's bid for an Otero County Commission seat. Shinabery said at one candidate forum, while several candidates were virulently arguing over issues of self-proclaimed importance, Marchand's sense of humor poked through the political stuffiness.

"He described being called to Desert Lakes Golf Course, and going out to one of the course's ponds to round up a wayward oryx," Shinabery said.

He last talked to Marchand shortly before Marchand's retirement.

"Al had a dream," Shinabery said. "He told me when he took off his badge for the last time he was going to follow his dream and become a flight attendant. He also told me he had found spiritual peace and contentment in his life."