Meghan Edwards was studying on the steps of Old Main yesterday when a group of students approached her and asked her to write a letter to a veteran.

They directed her to a table covered in red, white and blue, and handed her a pen and paper.

Edwards (junior-bioengineering) was one of many Penn State students who contributed to a collection of letters, which will be delivered to State College veterans on Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

"Writing letters brings about awareness," Edwards said. "There's a lot of opposition to the war right now, but it's important to still remember the veterans who have defended our country."

The letter-writing event was planned by seven freshmen as part of Leadership Jumpstart, a two-credit class offered to Schreyer Honors College freshman students. The class, which meets one Saturday per month, requires students to carry out a service project.

"We wanted to do something to honor the men and women who fought in past wars and all of the sacrifices they've made," said David Comber (freshman-engineering). "A lot of college students don't give much thought to the sacrifices veterans have made for all Americans, including us as college students."

George S. Zonge, commander of the State College Veterans of Foreign Wars, chatted with students as they wrote letters.

"I really enjoy doing this," said Zonge, who fought in World War II and the Vietnam and Korean wars. "It keeps me young."

Tinina Thompson (graduate-environmental engineering) said she wrote a letter because she is appreciative of the sacrifices veterans have made.

"Being a college student, it's sometimes easy to get caught up in classes and work. This event attaches us to the veterans and reconnects us to what they've done," Thompson said. "It's good to reflect and take the time to be thankful for our veterans."

The students manning the letter-writing stand hoped an enthusiastic reaction from passers-by would attract more attention to their cause.

"If college students see other students writing letters, it will encourage them to get involved," said Mark Blasini (freshman-psychology and music education).

Blasini helped out at the event as part of a community service requirement for his English 30 (Honors Freshman Composition) class.

"I felt like it would be doing something productive toward outside society," he said.

Monica Sigrist, an event planner, said the project was a respectful and peaceful way for students to voice their opinions.

"Patriotism is swaying a bit, especially right now with the war. This is a good way to bring out patriotism among college students," Sigrist (freshman-business) said.

For Bret Mooney (freshman-accounting), assisting with the event was much more than just a way to fulfill community service requirements for English class.

"If we honor our veterans, then we're saying that we have respect for them and we want to pay tribute to them for protecting our country from adversaries," Mooney said. "I think most students are aware of what veterans have done, but I don't know if they outright do anything to recognize them."

The stationery, pens and envelopes needed for the project were donated by the Penn State Bookstore in the HUB-Robeson Center; Office Depot, 387 Benner Pike; and Ollie's in the Hills Plaza on South Atherton Street.

David Comber said his Leadership Jumpstart team will hold an American flag drive and a flag retirement ceremony Nov. 9 in addition to the letter-writing event.

"A big concern that many veterans have is properly retiring the American flag," Comber said.