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TRADITIONS
Bonfire
In reflecting on the commemoration of The Bonfire Memorial once again I found
Jim Robinson’s book fit the Aggie model. Reworking his words, "The
tragedy of the Bonfire collapse in 1999 is the most severe trauma in A&M’s
history. Nobody was prepared for it. It changed forever the dreamy enthusiasm
and youthful innocence of our ‘burning desire to beat texas’ that began in
1909."
Bonfire symbolized our Aggie culture, what my daughter ‘95 called her Aggie
inheritance. On Nov 18, 1999 Aggies everywhere, stunned by tragedy, joined
together watching the news, hands and hearts solemnly linked around the world.
We cried together. As the incredible tragic reality sunk in, we bowed our heads
in prayer for the fallen as the sorrow engulfed us.
For Aggies, Bonfire will always be a part of A&M’s legacy. Before 1999 it
was the special time we bonded together to beat the hell outta tu. Today the
tragic memory provides the common bond. The Bonfire Memorial, like the flags
over Kyle Field, the trees around Simpson Drill Field, the hallowed MSC, and the
Wall of Names at the Corps entrance, will give substance to our Aggie
experience. In fact it has begun already.
The Aggie Rings left behind at the memorial for our fallen brethren speak
volumes about post-Bonfire Aggies. The memorial is the newest testament to an
Aggies belief in commitment, sacrifice, loyalty, tradition, and Spirit.
Heather Marks ’02 sent me the speech given by Chip Theil ’00 at the Bonfire
Commemoration. Theil was on the stack when it collapsed. He suffered a punctured
leg and severely injured leg. I’ve included his speech in its entirety below.
Bonfire 1999 Commemorated
Five years ago I stood on top of the world perched atop 4th stack with 3 dear
friends of mine watching Aggies build what is one of our greatest traditions.
Suddenly, in some unforeseeable twist of fate, my life changed, the life of
every Aggie that came before and after me changed. Texas A&M changed.
As a natural result Texas A&M has to adapt to a life without bonfire on
campus. As we celebrate the memories of 12 Aggies whose lives were cut short as
they willingly participated in this university's greatest tradition, I would
like to reflect on the contagious spirit of a tradition left behind.
My favorite time of year comes in the fall, when the northern air arrives to
push the humidity down to a reasonable level, to turn leaves brown, and to
remind me and Ags everywhere that it is bonfire weather.
Many current students do not know the meaning bonfire weather and many former
students have let the memory fade. Bonfire weather is the time of year when
Aggies unselfishly sacrifice time, grades, and everything in between to cut,
load, transport, unload, and stack a forest full of trees to create the largest
bonfire in the world.
It was bigger than necessary and defied reason and possibility, but we would not
have it any other way. While it would have been more efficient to use modern
technologies and equipment, we chose to do it as it was done for 90 years; with
sweat, blisters, grunts, groans, teamwork, axes, machetes, ropes, chains, wire,
over-sized nails, pliers, steel toed boots, carhartt jackets, generous
donations, left handed sky hooks, FFE semis, muddy pick-ups, muffler less
tractors, scarecrows, and perimeter pole fires.
Then just before the fightin Texas Aggie football team squared off against the
ladies from Austin, we burned it in an arrogantly flamboyant ceremony that said,
"We are the Aggies, the Aggies are we." While 10s of 1000's gathered
annually to witness the big fire, the cadets, non-regs, O.C. hogs, brownpots,
yellowpots, butt-pots, crew chiefs, centerpolepots, pink pots, redpots, bonfire
buddies, blacks, women, asians, men, whites, latinos, and randoms who had
invested 1000's of hours of sweat equity in that stack of wood knew that the
only reason we burned it was to clear the Polo Fields so that we could do it all
over again next year.
I would now like to take you back to a day prior to Nov 18, 1999 to enjoy what
many Ags enjoyed...a common day at bonfire. Not to diminish the memories of the
fallen, but to burn into your memory why they were here that night. If you would
like, go ahead and close your eyes and take a nostalgic journey back to the good
ol days.
As you make your way to the polo fields, first you hear it. It's dark outside
and you are walking across a sleeping and studying campus. Steel toe boots
clunking along the sidewalk. A chain jingles at your side that is taped to your
pliers. Your pot rattles a little. The first sounds from the field emerge as the
buzz of chainsaws, tractor engines, and then some faint music. A nearly worn out
Jerry Jeff tape moans out "desperadoes waiting for a train..." Then
you can hear the shouts and your pace quickens. "1-2 halfway up, I need a
log right here, gimmie some wire, I want my chain back, headache!, I need a
heave." all mixed with the proper expletives.
Then you can see it. A home made flag waves atop an oppressive hulk of a
structure lit by old beat up gas lights atop leaning perimeter poles. A chill of
Aggie pride runs down your spine. A mass of people are there; some working, some
watching. A huge crane lifts another log and swings it gently into place.
Then you can smell it. Smoke from perimeter fires, mud or dust depending on the
year, chainsaw mix, cigar smoke, stale coffee, non-reg's grodes, sawdust and
fresh cut hardwood.
Then you can taste it. You flick a dead bee off an old donut and wash it down
with coffee that tastes like it was made last week. On your way to the stack,
you put in a dip of Copenhagen...no less than a third of the can.
Finally you can feel it. A chilly north wind, oaky bark, cold wire, metal
pliers, a 2x8 for a seat in a swing on third stack, perimeter ropes nearby. You
survey your quadrant and agree with your ground man where you need to
concentrate. You spy a penny nail a few logs in. You get it and stick it through
the hole in the sleeve of your jacket so you can use it later. Then you shout
with all of your might I NEED SOME WIRE AND A LOG UP HERE RIGHT NOW!!!
Again sprinkled with expletives.
At the end of the shift, the sun is peeking up over the oak trees. You work your
way down the stack. Your voice is spent. You walk back to the dorm joking with
your friends...probably your friends for years to come. All of you tired, but
proud to be Aggies and united by the fire.
That is the Bonfire I knew, that is the Bonfire I miss.
God Bless America and the Soldiers that defend her.
Gig 'em Chip Thiel '00
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Gig
'em
Gig 'em At a yell practice before the 1930 TCU
game, A&M board of regent Pinky Downs '06 shouted, "What are we going
to do to those Horned Frogs?" His muse did not fail him as he improvised,
borrowing a term from frog hunting. "Gig 'em, Aggies!" he said as he
made a fist with his thumb extended straight up. And with that the first hand
sign in the Southwest Conference came into being. [ For a fuller history of the
Gig 'em thumb signal, read "Football Hand Signals" by Paul Burka,
Texas Monthly ]
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Reveille
Reveille, the first lady of Aggieland, is the official mascot of Texas A&M
University. She is the highest ranking member of the Corps of Cadets, and she is
a Five-Star General.
Reveille I came to Texas A&M in January 1931. A group of cadets hit a small
black and white dog on their way back from Navasota. They picked up the dog and
brought her back to school so they could care for her. The next morning, when
“Reveille” was blown by a bugler, she started barking. She was named after
this morning wakeup call. The following football season she was named the
official mascot when she led the band onto the field during their half-time
performance. When Reveille I died on January 18, 1944, she was given a formal
military funeral on the gridiron of Kyle Field. She was then buried at the north
entrance to the field, as all Reveilles are, facing the scoreboard so that she
can always watch the Aggies outscore their opponent.
Before naming Reveille II, there were several other unofficial mascots, such as
Tripod, Spot, and Ranger. It was not until a later Reveille that she was a
full-blood Collie. The most current Reveille is Reveille VII who was inducted
during Parents Weekend in April 2001. Since that time Reveille VI, her
predecessor, has been living in retirement with a local veterinarian.
Reveille is the most revered dog on campus. Company E-2 has the privilege of
taking care of Reveille. If she is sleeping on a cadet’s bed, that cadet must
sleep on the floor. Cadets address Reveille as “Miss Rev, ma’am.” If she
is in class and barks while the professor is teaching, the class is to be
immediately dismissed.
Reveille is a highly cherished mascot and receives only the best.
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Silver Taps
By far, One of Texas A&M’s most honored traditions is Silver Taps. Silver
Taps is held for a graduate or undergraduate student who passes away while
enrolled at A&M. This final tribute is held the first Tuesday of the month
when a student has passed away the previous month.
The first Silver Taps was held in 1898 and honored Lawrence Sullivan Ross, the
former governor of Texas and president of A&M College. Silver Taps is
currently held in the Academic Plaza. On the day of Silver Taps, a small card
with the deceased students name, class, major, and date of birth is placed as a
notice at the base of the academic flagpole, in addition to the memorial located
behind the flagpole. Around 10:15 that night, the lights are extinguished and
hymns chime from Albritton Tower. Students silently gather at the statue of
Lawrence Sullivan Ross. At 10:30pm, the Ross Volunteer Firing Squad marches into
the plaza and fire a twenty-one gun salute. Buglers then play a special
rendition of Silver Taps by Colonel Richard Dunn. Taps is played three times
from the dome of the Academic Building: once to the north, south, and west. It
is not played to the east because the sun will never rise on that Aggie again.
After the buglers play, the students silently return to their homes. Silver Taps
is a sacred tradition that Aggies hold dear.
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Memorial Student Center
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends.”
Every Aggie has a home away from home in the Memorial Student Center. It is a
place where students and guests can go to do a variety of things. However, this
facility is unique because it is also a memorial. After the world wars, the
alumni wanted to build a memorial to honor all those Aggie that had lost their
lives during the World Wars. At the same time, the students wanted to build a
student center. The alumni and the students put their ideas together and the MSC
was built. It was dedicated on Muster Day (April 21) of 1951 to all Aggies that
gave their lives in wars past or future. In front of the MSC there are 55 trees
that surround O.R. Simpson Drill Field to honor the 55 Aggies that gave their
lives in World War II and received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Under their
photograph their medal is displayed along with a brief explanation of their
heroic efforts.
As well as serving as a memorial, the students did get their student center.
Today the MSC houses three art galleries, three eating facilities, a barber
shop, a craft shop, a bookstore, the browsing library, an eight-lane bowling
ally, a pool hall, an arcade, a seventy-room hotel, and The Flagroom. The
Flagroom, also known as the ‘Living Room of Texas A&M’, is a place where
students often gather to study, meet friends to eat, have meetings, or just to
take a nap between classes.
The MSC is a living memorial, so please help us to respect those fallen Aggies
by removing your hats when you step inside the building and by not walking on
the grass surrounding the facility.
“No more convincing testimony could be given to the manner in which the men of
Texas A&M lived up to the ideals and principles inculcated in their days on
the campus than the simple statement that the Congressional Medal of Honor has
been awarded to six former students, that 46 took part in the heroic defense of
Bataan and Corregidor, and that nearly 700 are on the list of our battle
dead.”
--Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1946
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Twelfth Man
The tradition of the Twelfth Man was born on the second of January 1922, when an
underdog Aggie team was playing Centre College, the nation's top ranked team. As
the hard fought game wore on, and the Aggies dug deeply into their limited
reserves, Coach Dana X. Bible remembered a squad man who was not in uniform. He
had been up in the press box helping reporters identify players. His name was E.
King Gill. Gill was called from the stands, suited up, and stood ready
throughout the rest of the game. When the game ended, Gill was the only man left
standing on the sidelines for the Aggies. Gill later said, "I wish I could
say that I went in and ran for the winning touchdown, but I did not. I simply
stood by in case my team needed me." Although Gill did not play in the
game, he had accepted the call to help his team. He came to be thought of as the
Twelfth Man because he stood ready for duty in the event that the eleven men on
the gridiron needed assistance. That spirit of readiness for service, desire to
support, and enthusiasm helped kindle a flame of devotion among the entire
student body; a spirit that has grown vigorously throughout the years. The
entire student body at A&M is the Twelfth Man, and they stand during the
entire game to show their support. The 12th Man is always in the stands waiting
to be called upon if they are needed.
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Elephant Walk
Elephant Walk marks the end of the usefulness of
the Aggie seniors to the student body. Like dying elephants, which wander the
jungle looking for a place to die after their value to the herd is over,
thousands of seniors will join hands and wander aimlessly about campus visiting
landmarks for the symbolic "last time."
The event occurs annually prior to the last regularly scheduled football game.
Seniors meet at Kyle Field for a yell practice and presentations. Afterwards,
senior yell leaders and redpots will lead the group through campus.
The seniors will stop at Fish Pond, the Lawrence Sullivan Ross Statue, and the
Corps Quadrangle for brief yell practices before heading out to the Bonfire site
on the Polo Fields.
This Aggie tradition is known to underclassmen as "E-Walk" since it is
bad for underclassmen to say the word elephant as it is classified as a
"senior word."
It all started in 1922. Two Aggie Band Fish from the Class of 1926 wandered out
of Kyle Field after the football team was outscored the second time in the first
two weeks of the season. They began to play a mournful funeral march. The goal
of the march was to break the "jinx" that haunted Aggie football at
the time. One by one, others joined the march, creating a long, serpent-like
column that wandered throughout the campus. For the rest of the season, the fish
continued their walk regardless of whether or not the football team was
outscored. After their freshman year, the Class of 1926 discontinued their
marches throughout campus.
During their senior year, the Class of 1926 decided to give one last Walk to
show their spirit for the A&M College of Texas. The other three classes on
campus at the time had never seen the ceremony. Led by the same two
"Fish", the seniors rested one hand on the shoulder of the Aggie in
front of them and walked around campus as they did when they were freshmen, only
this time they were wearing their senior boots. The seniors cried as they walked
through the campus, remembering good times and bad, buddies for life, and those
that had fallen along the way. The Class of 1926 "died" much in the
same fashion as elephants do in the wild. Thus, the solemn tradition of Elephant
Walk was born.
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Aggie Muster
"Softly call the Muster, let comrade answer 'Here'..."
Aggies gathered together on June 26,1883 to live over again their college days,
the victories and defeats won and lost upon the drill field and in the
classroom. By April 21, 1903, this annual gathering evolved into a celebration
of Texas' Independence on San Jacinto Day. These early meetings included field
games and banquets for Aggies to reflect and celebrate their memories of
Aggieland. 'Let every alumni answer a roll call' wrote the former students. It
was not until 1922, however, that April 21 became the official day of events for
all Aggies, thus, the annual tradition of Muster was born. The March 1923 Texas
Aggie urged, 'If there is an A&M man in one-hundred miles of you, you are
expected to get together, eat a little, and live over the days you spent at the
A&M College of Texas.
Still remembering and honoring the time spent in Aggieland, the tradition of
mustering has grown in strength, meaning, and spirit. By 1929, meeting had grown
worldwide, and in 1942 Aggie Muster gained international recognition.
Twenty-five men, led by General George Moore '08, mustered during the Japanese
Siege of the Philippine island of Corregidor. Knowing that Muster might soon be
called for them, these Aggies embodied the essence of commitment, dedication,
and friendship- the Aggie Spirit. They risked their lives to honor their beliefs
and values. That small group of Aggies on an outpost during World War II
inspired what has developed into one of our greatest traditions.
Muster is celebrated in more than four-hundred places world wide, with the
largest ceremony on the Texas A&M campus in College Station. The ceremony
brings together more Aggies, worldwide, on one occasion than any other event.
The students of Texas A&M University coordinate the Campus Muster. Because
Muster was established to bring Aggies together, each Campus Muster is dedicated
to the fifty-year reunion class. The Campus Muster involves an entire day of
activities for students both present and past. Alumni enjoy a special program
including tours of the ever-changing campus. At noon, all Aggies congregate at
the Academic Plaza for the Camaraderie Barbecue that rekindles the tradition of
the original Muster celebration. That night, the Muster ceremony consists of an
address by a keynote speaker, the reading of poems, followed by the Roll Call
for the Absent. The Roll Call honors Aggies that have fallen since the last
Muster roll was read. As the names are read, a friend or family member answers
'Here', and a candle is lit to symbolize that while those Aggies are not present
in body, they will forever remain with us in Aggie Spirit.
Century-old roots provide the basis of Muster as Aggies know it today. It has
changed, yet the Spirit in which it was established remains the same. Since the
beginning, every Aggie has lived and become a part of the Aggie Spirit. What is
felt today is not just the love of a fellow Aggie, it is the spirit of hundreds
of thousands of Aggies who have gone before. Muster is how that Spirit is
remembered and will continue to unite Texas A&M and the Aggie family.
A&M may change, but the Spirit never will.
[ Additional Muster information is available from the Muster Committee ]
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Aggie Ring
One of the greatest moments in the life of any Aggie is the day that they
receive their Aggie Ring. This moment began with the Class of 1889. The original
ring is very different from the ring worn today. At that time several companies
made several different versions of the Aggie Ring. It wasn't until E.C. Jonas,
class of 1894, designed a ring for his class that the ring we know today came
into existence. It has remained exactly as Jonas designed it, with one
exception; in 1964 the Legislature of the State of Texas changed the
university's name from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas to Texas
A&M University, and the name on the ring was changed accordingly.
The ring worn by all Aggie graduates is the same except for the class year. This
serves as a common link for former students. When an Aggie sees the ring on
another Aggie's hand, a spontaneous reunion occurs.
The Aggie Ring is one of the most symbolic of our traditions. Everything seen on
the ring represents a value that an Aggie should hold. On the top is a large
shield, which symbolizes the desire to protect the reputation of the university.
The 13 stripes on the shield represent the 13 original states of America. The
five stars on the shield refer to the phases of development of any Aggie: mind
or intellect; body; spiritual attainment; emotional poise; and integrity of
character. The eagle symbolizes agility and power, and the ability to reach
great heights.
The large star on the side of the ring symbolizes the Seal of Texas. The
five-pointed star is encircled with a wreath of olive and laurel leaves
symbolizing achievement and a desire for peace. The live oak leaves symbolize
the strength to fight for our country and our state. The leaves are joined at
the bottom by an encircling ribbon to show the necessity of joining these two
traits to accomplish one's ambition to serve.
An ancient cannon, a saber, and a rifle are on the other side of the ring and
symbolize how citizens of Texas fought for their land and are determined to
defend it. The saber stands for valor and confidence, while the rifle and cannon
stand for a preparedness and defense. The crossed flags of the United States and
Texas recognize an Aggie's dual allegiance to both nation and state.
Traditionally, students wear their ring with the class year facing them to
signify the fact that their time at A&M is not yet complete. During Senior
Weekend at the annual Ring Dance, the student's ring is turned around to face
the world proudly, just as the Aggie graduate will be ready to face the world.
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Parents’ Weekend
Parents’ Weekend is a time honored tradition at Texas A&M. Since 1919,
Aggies have set aside one weekend during the year to show their appreciation for
their biggest supporters and fans - their parents. Originally held on Mother’s
Day, the weekend has moved to April and has gone under such names as Mother and
Dad’s Day, Parent Appreciation and Open House Day, and its current name,
Parents’ Weekend.
Parents, grandparents, siblings and other friends come to visit students in
College Station. In typical Aggie style there are many activities planned to
make the weekend enjoyable for everyone. Indeed, this weekend has become the
most eventful of the year complete with barbecues and picnics, an Ol’ Army
Yell Practice, concerts, a Variety Show, a Corps of Cadets Military Review, and
get-togethers for nearly every student organization. The climax of the weekend
is the announcement of the Aggie Parents of the Year, selected from numerous
nominations from their sons and daughters. The Student government Parents’
Weekend Committee puts tremendous effort into planning and preparing for
Parents’ Weekend to show their appreciation for their parents, and by the time
the parents return home, they have come to love A&M nearly as much as their
children do.
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