EAST HAMPTON--East Hampton residents and community leaders gathered Friday night to send their prayers to Paris and the victims killed in the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks.
East Hampton is nicknamed Belltown USA, so, it was only fitting a bell was brought out during Friday evening's candlelight vigil on the town green to remembered those who died in the terrorist attacks.
Town leaders rang the bell six times, each ring symbolizing the six locations in Paris where terrorists attacked and murdered 129 victims. It was announced Friday that a 130th person died from the attacks.
"It's an issue that's impacted us along with the residents all over the world," said East Hampton Town Manager Michael Maniscalco.
A member of the East Hampton High School French Club sang the French national anthem at the vigil.
Maniscalco said many residents have personal connections to the country, including relatives who live in France.
East Hampton resident Megan Spaulding says her cousins living near Paris remained out of harms away, but says other community members have been affected in different ways by the tragedy.
"There are a lot of military families here, it sort of hits home. I don't know how you just think about the stuff with 9/11 and what that brought and all the people that have died," Spaulding said.
Around half of tonight's crowd was made up former service men and women, including members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 5095, who worked with town leaders to help get the event off the ground.
"I felt like this a good opportunity to let the people of the u.s.know also that we also come and let the people support the people of France," said Mclaughlin.