Texas Aggie Bonfire: A Personal Perspective

Ten years ago today, Aggie Bonfire fell in the early morning hours of November 18 killing 12 students and injuring 27. The event was a defining moment in the history of Texas A&M University. The tragedy thrust the university onto the national news and many people across the nation and world watched as the Aggie family reacted. What they saw was the Aggie family's finest hour. The events that would unfold after the collapse will forever be etched in my mind.

I was a wide eyed freshman still in my first semester at A&M. Not only was I trying to get adjusted to life as a college student, I was also trying to adjust to the military lifestyle demanded by the Corps of Cadets. One week before Bonfire fell I remember heading out to the site to work on the stack. After working several weekends to cut the logs, it was a privilege to climb up on the stack in a swing that hung from center pole and help tie the logs in with wire. Fast forward to the night of the collapse. I again made my way out to the site with friends to watch many Aggies feverishly working to finish Bonfire before it was to be lit the very next week. I watched in amazement as students from all parts of campus worked as a team to make sure Bonfire was a success. My Corps outfit was supposed to be on duty, but had switched with another outfit due to some scheduling conflicts. After a while, I headed back to the dorm to study for my Biology test the next day.

The morning of the collapse my roommate and I got out of bed at 4:30 a.m. to start cleaning our room for morning inspection. We had just started cleaning when every freshman was called into a room to deliver the news. "Bonfire has fallen. Some of our fellow Aggies have been killed. Please go call home to let them know you are alright." The message was simple, but the news was shocking. I walked back to my room in disbelief and with so many questions. I already had voice mails on my recorder from friends and family wanting to know if I was safe.

Texas A&M had been cast onto the national scene.

After I got dressed, I headed to my test which was cancelled and then directly to the site where Bonfire had collapsed. The campus was eerily quiet except for the news helicopters that hovered above campus. On my way to the stack, I ran into Miranda Adams' (one of the final Aggies killed in the collapse) parents. They needed directions to Bonfire and I offered to take them straight there. On the way, we talked about Miranda and how much she enjoyed working on Bonfire and how much she loved Texas A&M. When we arrived at stack, we located one of her friends who knew her parents. Initial reports suggested Miranda was still alive at a local hospital, but when the final report came in later that day, she had passed away during the collapse. After saying goodbye to her parents, I stayed out at stack searching for answers and asking why this happened. I could not believe what was unfolding before my eyes. I don't remember much more from the day except the memorial service held at Reed Arena later that night.

At the memorial, we sang the school song, heard addresses from the President and Student Body President, but perhaps the most moving part of the ceremony was not on the program. When everyone was dismissed, no one moved. It was as if no one wanted to leave, we just wanted to be together. Then, unannounced, everyone stood up and put there arms around one another. Silence followed for a few minutes, before every student in the arena began singing "Amazing Grace" in a capella. It was probably one of the most moving experiences of my college career.

It was at this point when I finally understood what it meant to be a Texas Aggie. It was at this point when I knew I was part of a family.

In the weeks following the tragedy, people from across the state and nation reached out in support of Texas A&M University. Additionally, I will always have the utmost respect for the response from the students at the University of Texas for their overwhelming support of A&M during this tough time in our history.

Looking back on that day ten years ago brings back a flood a memories. Memories of campus and how quiet it was in the days following the collapse. Memories of the candlelight vigil held out at the site at the time when Bonfire was scheduled to be lit. Memories of thousands of Aggies packed into Kyle Field for one of the most emotional yell practices before the game with t.u. Memories of the Longhorn band raising Aggie flags as they played Amazing Grace during halftime. Memories of the Texas Aggie band marching in the silent block T to end their halftime performance. And I could go on and on.

We will never forget the 12 Aggies and the legacies they left on the campus of Texas A&M. For them, they will fall into the long maroon line of those who went before them while the Aggie family continues to answer "Here" in their absence.

There's spirit can ne'er be told, it's the spirit of Aggieland