Updated: Osama Bin Laden is Dead, Obama Announces

Editor's Note: This article was updated with a PDF transcript of President Barack Obama's announcement and Ken Hartley's Facebook comment at 1:46 a.m. Monday.

Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida, is dead, President Barack Obama announced in a televised speech Sunday night.

"The United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, leader of al-Qaida," Obama said, explaining that bin Laden was killed during a fire fight in Pakistan as part of a U.S. military operation and his body is in U.S. custody (see accompanying transcript of the president's speech under photos.)

Bin Laden's death marks a historic turn of events in the U.S. war on terror that was sparked by the devastating Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, which were executed by the al-Qaida network.

Hermosa Beach resident wrote on Hermosa Beach Patch's Facebook page Sunday night about living New Jersey on Sept. 11. At the time, he was a member of a volunteer Fire Department team.

"As I watched the news in disbelief for a couple hours and saw the events unfold, I received a phone call from my Fire Chief stating that our Department had been activated and he was calling to get six of our firefighters to go to NYC. I said I'd be at the station in 10 minutes," Hartley wrote.

"I have a medal and several certificates and letters for helping on that day," he continued. "They sit on a shelf above my desk. I look at them often and can instantly go back to that time period and remember. Now that Osama is gone, we should be proud and thank our Military men and women who have been giving their all to make this day a reality. I’m beyond proud of them."

Hermosa Beach  on Pier Avenue between Valley Drive and Ardmore Avenue last year in honor of the Americans killed in the Sept. 11 attacks.

And just months after the memorial was built, a large crowd gathered outside the gates of the White House on Sunday when Obama's announcement was made, chanting "U.S.A.! U.S.A.!" and singing the national anthem.

Even here in the Beach Cities, in response to the news of bin Laden's death, residents behind the "South Bay" Facebook page wrote: YES !!

One Hermosa Beach resident on Twitter jokingly wrote: "Years from now I wonder if I'll remember that I was wearing compression tights the night it was announced Osama bin Laden was dead." — @runwicked

Another Hermosa Beach resident on Twitter joked: "Osama bin Laden: World Hide and Seek Champion (2001 - 2011)" — @pschao

On Hermosa Beach Patch's Facebook profile, Jaren Barredo commented: "ok... What now?"

Coming up, Patch will answer that question and report how this news could affect Hermosa Beach residents.