People across State College will remember Veterans Day in their own ways today, such as by writing letters to veterans, while Penn State will honor the military with a public ceremony at Old Main.

"The present war brings this year's Veterans Day to the forefront," said Mike Thompson, vice president of Penn State Veteran's Organization.

There are many men and women from age 18 to 25 at war who could be in college today, Thompson added, and Veterans Day is a reminder that people are overseas.

From noon to 1 p.m. today, the Penn State Veteran's Organization will hold a ceremony on the steps of Old Main to remember those who have served the country. Bagpipers will mark the opening of the ceremony, and Jonathan Bennett, a senior consultant for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and veteran of the current Iraq war, will speak.

"Veterans Day is an opportunity to remember those who have fallen already and to honor their sacrifice and to thank our current veterans," said Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Evans, Penn State National Guard adviser.

Paul and Sandra Larson, State College area residents, are two of the many people affected on this Veterans Day.

Their son, Karl Larson, Class of 2002, is a Marine currently stationed near the Syrian border, and they are busy gathering care packages to send to their son and other troops.

The Larsons never guided their son to the military, Sandra Larson said, but with a long family history of military men, including her brother and husband, it seemed like instinct that their son would go into the service. She added that Veterans Day has always been important to her.

"I have always given the highest respect to the military," she said.

State College Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Commander George Zonge said he served in the armed forces for 30 years, through three different wars.

"Veterans Day is to recognize both the past and the present," he said. "Especially the young boys coming back from war. We need to especially recognize them; they are putting their lives on the line for all of us."

Penn State students are also contributing to the celebration of Veterans Day. Through the Leadership Jumpstart, a two-credit class given by the

Schreyer Honors College, several students held five separate events during which they asked fellow students and local residents to write letters to local veterans. They collected about 200 letters and plan to visit the American Legion and the VFW today to distribute the letters.

"Veterans Day is very important to me," David Comber (freshman-engineering) said. "I am an Eagle Scout, and I believe in the great importance of supporting one's country and being patriotic."

Thompson said he commends the students' efforts to reach out to the public and honor veterans.

"It is nice to see a group of students to be so civic-minded, and I applaud them on that," he said.

Max Hummel, a World War II veteran and member of the VFW, said it's an honor to have a day of respect for those who fought and are still fighting in the war.

"It was a privilege and an honor to be a veteran and to serve our country," he said. "It is nice to know that everyone that has fought is remembered."