Grave, cloudy skies reflected the somber mood yesterday morning on the steps of Old Main during an event commemorating the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

About 75 people gathered to remember the five-year anniversary of Sept. 11 in a memorial service organized by the Penn State College Republicans.

Penn State College Republican chairman Seth Bender said the College Republicans organized the event because something needed to be done.

"It is just as important to meditate now as ever," he said.

USNR Commander and 77th district state representative candidate Barbara Spencer described her memories of watching the event unfold on television as a "dusty cloud of death."

Despite this negativity, she stressed the need to reflect on the positive side effects of the 9/11 events.

"Many good things came from Sept. 11, 2001," she said. "There was a flood of national pride. There were no strangers, just a bond of love."

Spencer went on to urge the audience to remain optimistic and remember the positive aspects of the aftermath of the terrorist attack.

"Maybe this is what we remember, what we did for each other, how we reached out to each other to become one nation, under God, seeking justice," she said.

Shortly after Spencer spoke, the Penn Harmonics sang God Bless America, creating a patriotic mood for the key speaker, United States Congressman John E. Peterson of Pennsylvania's 5th Congressional District.

Peterson said it is important Americans do not live in fear of this event.

"Fear itself can destroy us," he said.

In regards to America's reaction to the terrorists, Peterson again urged listeners to react courageously.

"When you don't react to attacks, you employ the enemy, you empower them," he said. "They too are guided by fear, and they do not fear us. It is vital that we preserve freedom in the United States."

Peterson spoke with great emotion, to the point that one of the National Guard members, situated behind the congressman, fainted.

"He was overwhelmed with emotion. He joined the National Guard and ROTC because of 9/11," Sergeant First Class Leonard Kelly said.

Reflecting on the memorial service, Bender said he hopes Americans will continue to memorialize the anniversary of Sept. 11 every year.

"It is important to remember the bravery exemplified and the innocence lost," he said. "We must never, never forget."

The program ended with the chiming of the bells at 8:46 a.m., representing the time when the first plane hit the World Trade Center.

Meanwhile from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. yesterday, the Chabad Jewish Student Organization, together with Chabad on Campus at Penn State, held the 4th annual Mitzvah Marathon in front of the Allen Street Gates.

To honor the victims of Sept. 11, on slips of paper, people wrote good deeds they intended to do. The name and picture of every victim adorned the pieces of paper.

By noon yesterday, about 50 people had stopped by the stand.

After writing down a good deed, the slip of paper was clasped onto a clotheslines draped in front of the street.

"It can be any good deed, like give time to help somebody, give blood or give to charity," , Eleanor Shelemey (junior-nondegree/international student) said.

These good deeds and simple acts of kindness are the best ways to eradicate terrorism, Rabbi Nosson Meretsky, director of Chabad of Penn State, said.

"The metaphor of terrorism is darkness," Meretsky said. "The Jewish way of counteracting it is with the light of kindness and goodness."