The somber mood of the Sept. 11 anniversary was lifted a bit as residents of State College gathered yesterday to honor those lost in the attacks.

Kenny Gerszberg (freshman-premedicine) heard about yesterday's Mitzvah Marathon from a friend and felt inclined to take part in some way to memorialize those who died two years ago.

"It's important because if no one remembers what happened, it pretty much loses the honor of people who died," Gerszberg said while standing at the Allen Street Gates.

The event was sponsored by Chabad of Penn State and Hillel: Foundation for Jewish Campus Life as well as six greek organizations.

Students, faculty and community members received a photograph of a victim with their name and age next to the portrait.

Alongside the picture, a name and a good deed was written by a participant of the memorial activity. The good deed, or mitzvah, was carried out that day by the supporter with the intent to, "get rid of darkness by adding a little light to our lives," said Rabbi Nosson Meir Meretsky, director of Chabad House: Jewish Student Center.

The day of remembrance was carried out in many forms: prayer, action and meditation.

Regardless of the manner of honoring those lost two years ago, there was a steady theme for the day, said Tuvia Abramson, director of Hillel.

"It's good that life is to be normal, but our responsibility is to support [the country] and be united ... we need the home front to be united," he said.

Attendants of the event were as passionate about the activity as the organizers, said Sue Tygel, religious school director of Congregation Brit Shalom, 620 E. Hamilton Ave.

"I think [this event] is important so people are remembered," Tygel said, "and it gives us a chance to do something positive and something we can do to fight terrorism."

Meredith Ostach, (senior-psychology), who worked at the public gathering yesterday, said she wanted to participate because the catastrophic events on Sept. 11, 2001, should never be forgotten, she said.

"Awareness and remembrance of tragic events is something we should all partake in," Ostach said.

Kerri Kaufman, (senior-journalism), the secretary of Chabad, said yesterday's turnout was successful because it involved more than one cultural background.

"All ethnicity's and religions opened up to it and are helping out, because they know they're honoring someone's life," Kaufman said.

On the other side of campus, in the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, students lit candles, meditated in a moment of silence and prayed before heading off to class, said Davin Carr-Chellman, assistant director of the center.

The sanctuary's atmosphere was "pretty intense, meaningful and important," Carr-Chellman said.

The spiritual center's main goal was to provide a venue for people to fulfill their spiritual needs and not feel overwhelmed about the anniversary, he said. The subdued service was appropriate for the somber day.

"There's been so much media attention paid to Sept. 11, it's kind of nice that the anniversary can be less of that," he said.

Sarah Guerrisky (senior-biology) said the service was an appropriate way to honor those who died two years ago.

"I wanted to pay my respects to everybody who helped out and for all the people who died unnecessarily and continued to support the efforts to stop this from happening again," she said.