RELATIVES MOURN NEAR SITE OF TRAGEDY.

Byline: Jesse Hiestand Staff Writer

POINT MUGU - Huddled in groups or standing alone at the surf's edge, family members whose loved ones died in the crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 gathered Thursday for a private remembrance on the beach just miles from the disaster site.

As a few of the more than 100 relatives stepped briefly into the shallow water on a beach at the naval air weapons station, a skywriter painted a white cross, followed by a heart, both of which slowly drifted north until they vanished into the cloudless sky.

``It was prayers and tears and a lot of togetherness,'' Cora Fields, a spokeswoman for the naval air base, said of the mourners.

One by one, they placed roses into a basket that was later carried about 20 miles to the crash site by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter. There, 83 passengers and five crew members perished Monday when the MD-83 jetliner plummeted into the Santa Barbara Channel.

After more than an hour by the shore, the family members were shuttled back to their hotel rooms near Los Angeles International Airport in a convoy of six chartered buses.

``The families just wanted to get a look at the area where the accident happened,'' said Ventura County sheriff's Deputy Eric Nishimoto, a department spokesman.

Hours earlier, news helicopters had tracked and broadcast the buses' journey to Ventura County, but news crews were kept out of the naval base and away from the private gathering. Even boats that drifted to within a half-mile of the gathering were chased off by a sheriff's helicopter.

Alaska Airlines employees traveled separately to a beach near the crash site, where they placed flowers and grabbed one another's arms as they walked in the sand.

Across the country, the airline, which retired Flight No. 261, held a minute of silence for the victims. The employees stopped working at 4:36 p.m., near the time of the crash.

At Burbank Airport, employees held hands in a large circle on the tarmac.

An Alaska Airlines Friends and Family Fund has been set up for individuals who want to send donations to assist the family members of the 88 passengers and crew members who perished in Monday's crash.

Donations should be sent to: The Alaska Airlines Friends And Family Fund, PO Box 68900, Seattle, WA 98168-0900.

Along the beaches north of the naval base, well-wishers continued to place flowers and notes at shrines throughout the day Thursday.

At dusk, more than 200 people gathered at the Port Hueneme Fishing Pier for a candlelight vigil, during which they prayed, sang and cried for the crash victims.

These families, plus teen-agers on bikes, firefighters and off-duty Navy personnel, held long-stemmed roses and cupped their hands to shield the candles' flame, many with eyes downcast, a few wiping away tears.

Many later walked to the end of the pier and dropped their roses into the water.

``You just wish you could do something more for them,'' said Linda Morris, 47, of Port Hueneme, an elementary school teacher's aide.

``At least by seeing us here, they'll know we share their pain,'' said Lydia Villarreal, 50, a retired government computer specialist. ``I hope that in some way, this will give them strength so they can come to some kind of peace.''

While the tragedy rattled the quiet seaside town of Port Hueneme, the challenge to overcome it has drawn closer its neighbors, newcomers and strangers.

``The community has really pulled together for this,'' said Torrey Willett, 23, a Navy petty officer who lives near the pier. ''It's not something you can forget about. I think it will always be in our minds.''

In Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger Mahony announced he will celebrate a special Mass at 9:30 a.m. Sunday to commemorate the crash victims. The service will be held at Visitation Church at 6561 W. 88th Street, near LAX.

- The Associated Press contributed to this story.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo: (1) Port Hueneme residents gather for a candlelight vigil Thursday near the Port Hueneme Fishing Pier to honor crash victims.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

(2 -- color) Family members of passengers who died on Flight 261 hold a memorial service at the water's edge Thursday.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press

(3 -- color) A sky-written message of love greets family members of passengers of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 at Point Mugu as a memorial services is held on the beach below.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press