The golden aura of 11 candles shimmered across the faces of a vast, hushed crowd while the faint strains of a memorial hymn wavered in the background.

This was the opening scene yesterday afternoon in Eisenhower Auditorium, where about 1,600 people descended upon the hall for a solemn commemoration to honor the thousands of lives lost in the worst terrorist attack in American history.

Sponsored by Penn State and local officials, the noontime reflection ceremony focused specifically on the 10 Penn State alumni who were killed Sept. 11, 2001. Enlarged images of the alumni were placed in a row in the auditorium's lobby for attendants to view.

The 11 candles included 10 to remember the lost alumni and one to honor all the others who were lost.

Following a brief invocation and a song from the Penn State Concert Choir, U.S. Navy Cmdr. David Hulse moved to the podium to talk about his face-to-face experience with the startling terrorist attacks. Hulse, a 1982 Penn State graduate, was in the Pentagon's National Military Command Center when American Airlines Flight 77 hit.

"That morning was a fairly normal morning," Hulse recalled.

Hulse said soon after the crash, he realized the office he was working in -- which was directly opposite where the plane slammed into the Pentagon -- was going to be needed to house fellow Pentagon workers.

"What I observed that day would best be described as determination," Hulse said. "We were determined to assist people."

Hulse said he didn't fully comprehend the devastation until the helicopter he was in later that day hovered above the crash site. He could only describe the scene as "surreal."

Next, Anne Prosser Warrell, a 1994 Penn State alumna, spoke about escaping from the 90th floor of the World Trade Center's north tower after the first airplane struck.

"My initial reaction was to be immediate ... to get out of the impact zone, to get in touch with my family, to escape," she said.

Warrell said minutes after fleeing the north tower, she watched as the south tower crumbled to the ground.

Warrell said the nation's newfound sense of freedom and patriotism following Sept. 11 should not go to waste.

"Let us use these strengths and positive endeavors, lest they be used by other people," she said. "Having survived the attacks as a nation, we must continue to move forward together."

Rodney Erickson, university vice president and provost, said the ceremony was a time of remembrance, reflection and resolve for all Americans.

"It is time to dream again, that wonderful phrase," he said to the audience.

The Penn State Concert Choir closed the service with a rousing rendition of "America the Beautiful." All those who were in attendance rose and sang in unison.

Several students said they were touched by the ceremony.

"It was good, very fitting," Laura Miller (senior-geography) said. "I'm doing better than I was an hour ago."

Kay Holtzinger (freshman-psychology) said the day was difficult for her. Holltzinger's relative passed away near this time last year, making the service a bit more comforting.

Attending the ceremony was something Dennis Samuel (senior-electrical engineering) felt he had to do.

"It helped me to feel that I'm supporting them [victims and their families] in an indirect way," he said.

Theresa Dalpiaz (senior-industrial engineering) watched the ceremonies in New York and Shanksville on television, but did not attend any campus memorials.

"I am just as emotional as I was one year ago," she said.