In Memory of those at Bonfire '99

Miranda Adams, Christopher Breen, Michael Ebanks, Jeremy Frampton, Jamie Hand, Christopher Lee Heard, Timothy Doran Kerlee, Jr., Lucas Kimmel, Bryan McClain, Chad Powell, Jerry Self, Nathan Scott West

Bonfire Remembrance Day 2004
November 18, 2004

BonfireMemorial.tamu.edu

The San Diego County A&M Club would like to send all the families of the 12 Aggies who died in the Bonfire accident their prayers and support. The Club will be donating to the Jeremy Frampton Scholarship Fund. Jeremy was from Turlock, California and his family has set up a scholarship in his name. If you would like to send a separate donation you can by sending a check to:

Farmers and Merchants Bank
Attn: Lori
Jeremy Frampton Scholarship Fund
301 E. Main Street
Turlock, CA  95380

There is also a Bonfire Memorial Fund, which is also taking donations. Make checks payable to Texas A&M Foundation and they can be sent to: 

Bonfire Memorial Fund
Texas A&M Foundation
401 George Bush Dr.
College Station, TX 77840-2811

In the memo section add "Bonfire Memorial Fund."

Following are some great stories, poems, and pictures from Aggies all around that we would like to share with you:

Bonfire Will Burn This Year
By 3rd Generation Ag
TexAgs.Com Contributor

 Joy, dreams, laughter, and hope,
 Vanish in a dark instant.
 Lives slip away-falling.
 Into a jumble of ruined futures.

 Word spreads with speed of night.
 Phones ring, and shaking young voices
 Seek to reassure parents-
 Needing reassurance in return.

 "Pray for me, pray for all of us"
 The message repeated across the land.
 Each prayer multiplied a hundredfold.
 By the Spirit that can Ne'er be told.

 Through the long vigil, tears stay close companions,
 As Ags search, and mourn, and move logs.
 As our family unites more solidly than ever before.
 Each new heartache fuels the Sprit to new levels.

 Bonfire was never really about those logs anyway.
 It was always about us-the great family of Aggies
 Joined for ninety years of building a bonfire.
 Bonfire brings us together to show our love for Aggieland.
 It is the 12th Man's finest hour.

 Bonfire WILL BURN THIS YEAR!!!!
 It burns when hundreds wait in line to give blood.
It burns when grieving families are embraced .
 It burns when team and students move those logs.
 It burns when thousands pray in the afternoon
 It burns when thousands more join arms at Reed.

 This year Bonfire may not light the night sky of College Station,
 But Bonfire will light the hearts of Aggies everywhere.
As the life and spirit of each lost Aggie is remembered
 Bonfire will burn-not only this year, but forever
Bonfire 99 is indeed the 12th Man's finest hour

I had the great privilege of attending the memorial service at A&M tonight and was deeply moved by the events I experienced. The A&M student body is truly one of the great treasures of our State. As part of the UT delegation, we sat on the floor of Reed Arena, and immediately following the end of the service, I heard this rustling sound behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw the sight of close to 20,000 students spontaneously putting their arms on their neighbor's shoulders, forming a great circle around the arena.  The mass stood there in a pin-drop silence for close to five minutes, then, from somewhere, someone began to hum quietly the hymn "Amazing Grace". Within seconds, the whole arena was singing. I tried too--I choked, I cried. 

This event brought me to tears. It was one if not the defining moment of my college career. I learned something tonight. For all us Longhorns discount A&M in our never-ending rivalry, we need to realize one thing. Aggieland is a special place, with special people. It is infinitely better equipped than us at dealing with a tragedy such as this for one simple reason. It is a family. It is a family that cares for its own, a family that reaches out, a family that is unified in the face of adversity; a family that moved this Longhorn to tears. 

My heart, my prayers; and the heart of the UT student body go out tonight to Aggies and their family and friends as they recover from this great loss. Texas A&M, The Eyes of Texas are Upon You--and they look with sincere sympathy upon a family that has been through so much tragedy this semester.

Eric Opiela
UT Student Body Vice President

Monday November 22 5:43 PM ET 
Dallas Stars To Wear Texas A&M Logo

DALLAS (AP) - The Dallas Stars are wearing Texas A&M logos on their helmets this week in honor of the 12 people killed last week's bonfire collapse at the school. In addition to Monday night's game against Colorado, the Stars also will wear the logos for Wednesday's game against Los Angeles and Friday's game against Anaheim.

A moment of silence was to precede Monday night's game.

"The Dallas Stars extend their deepest sympathy and prayers to Texas A&M University and the families of the victims from this tragic event," Stars president Jim Lites said Monday. "Our players feel that wearing the decals is a way that they can remember these individuals."

The Dallas Stars Foundation will make a donation to the Texas A&M Bonfire Memorial Fund, Lites said.