This Saturday, November 18, 2006, will mark the 7th anniversary of the Texas Aggie Bonfire Tragedy. At 2:30 a.m., 11 Texas A&M Students and one Texas A&M Former Student was killed, 27 others were seriously injured, and the entire Aggie family suffered, when the 50 plus foot stack of logs collapsed. Please take a moment to remember the fallen, and pray for those that were injured, as they still bear the pain of the physical scars, and for the Aggie family, as all of us, even if we weren't on the Polo Fields that night, still have the emotional scars.

Gig 'Em and God Bless!

The Last Corps Trip
It was Judgment Day in Aggieland
And tenseness filled the air;
All knew there was a trip at hand,
But not a soul knew where.

Assembled on the drill field
Was the world-renowned Twelfth Man,
The entire fighting Aggie team
And the famous Aggie Band.

And out in front with Royal Guard
The reviewing party stood;
St. Peter and his angel staff
Were choosing bad from good.

First he surveyed the Aggie team
And in terms of an angel swore,
"By Jove, I do believe I've seen
This gallant group before.

I've seen them play since way back when,
And they've always had the grit;
I've seen 'em lose and I've seen 'em win
But I've never seen 'em quit.

No need for us to tarry here
Deciding upon their fates;
Tis plain as the halo on my head
That they've opened Heaven's gates."

And when the Twelfth Man heard this,
They let out a! mighty yell
That echoed clear to Heaven
And shook the gates of Hell.

"And what group is this upon the side,"
St. Peter asked his aide,
"That swelled as if to burst with pride
When we our judgment made?"

"Why, sir, that's the Cadet Corps
That's known both far and wide
For backing up their fighting team
Whether they won lost or tied."

"Well, then," said St. Peter,
"It's very plain to me
That within the realms of Heaven
They should spend eternity.

And have the Texas Aggie Band
At once commence to play
For their fates too we must decide
Upon this crucial day."

And the drum major so hearing
Slowly raised his hand
And said, "Boys, let's play The Spirit
For the last time in Aggieland."

And the band poured forth the anthem,
In notes both bright and clear
And ten thousand Aggie voices
Sang the song they hold so dear.

And when the band had finished,
St. Peter wiped his eyes
And! said, "It's not so hard to see
They're meant for Paradise."

And the colonel of the Cadet Corps said
As he stiffly took his stand,
"It's just another Corps Trip, boys,
We'll march in behind the band."

Then heaven's pearly portals opened,
Hosts of Angels showed the way,
For that Fighting Texas Aggie group
On that final Judgment Day.

When more Aggies came in view.
Twelve dressed in Bonfire gear
Walking arm and arm, and singing
Of the School they hold so dear.

Twelve Aggie voices said "Howdy"
To the keepers of the Gate.
"Working hard we just lost track of time,
We hope we're not too late."

"It's the Fighting Aggie Bonfire Crew,"
St. Peter said, ‘Behold."
They're ready to light up Heaven,
With their courage and faith so bold".

"I would often watch them building,
That Stack so large and high,
And surely knew the time would come
They would build it in the sky."

And so the twelv! e came through the Gates,
St. Peter said, "Don't fear,
You are just in time for Roll Call"
One by one, they answered. . . ‘Here.'



Christopher D. Breen "Here"

Jerry Don Self "Here"

Michael Steven Ebanks "Here"

Jeremy Richard Frampton "Here"

Lucas John Kimmel "Here"

Christopher Lee Heard "Here"

Brian Allen McClain "Here"

Jamie Lynn Hand "Here"

Nathan Scott West "Here"

Chad Anthony Powell "Here"

Miranda Denise Adams "Here"

Timothy Doran Kerlee, Jr. "Here"

"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 neverending 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."
~ Texas Student Body President Eric Opiela on attending a memorial service for the Aggie Bonfire Tragedy

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(hurts my heart still so very much)

Here!

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2:42 a.m.

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AggieOhTen, I'm guessing you're class of 2010, so I would track down some of the people that were there that post on this board, and FWIW, Wikipedia has it listed as 2:30 a.m. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aggie_Bonfire

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The source of a deep and profound sadness that will be revisited every Thanksgiving.

I'll never forget how I felt that day, how we reacted to it, and the support we received from others.

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I always had 2:42 stuck in my head

Bonfire Memorial has 2:42 AM

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Always remember.

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ttt until 11/18

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" Families of recently deceased Aggies, we ask that your grace shine on them, forever...we also ask dear lord,that your bright light be used to show us the way out of our deep sorrow ...help us to always remember our recently departed freinds, classmates, and Aggie Buddies, may this remebrance last forever....lord give us the strength to live our lives with an increased appreciation of how very precious and fragile life is. For all these things and for your love, and especially for our departed aggie freinds tonight. Guide us forever with your love and wisdom.... amen"

Jeff Baily-Yell Leader
1999 Bonfire Remembrance

Arms of the Angel remake video/song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQOs_ZhAgcI

"These students were involved in a tradition that has become a part of being a Texas Aggie" ~ Former Texas A&M President Ray Bowen

Here. I cried for a long time after Bonfire and I used to get so PO'd defending Bonfire against those outside the Aggie Family.

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Gig'em and never forget.

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YBS. True story. The day bonfire fell, I was called and interviewed by a talk show host on WGN in Chicago (he was a friend of mine and knew I had worked on the stack back in the day). He had a caller call in and bring up, of all things, the "waste of trees".

Of course, Spike knew of the replanting program and mentioned it before I even had a chance. He also climbed all over his producer for letting that call in.

It was cathartic for me.

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May we never forget November 18, 1999. I will be wearing maroon that day for sure. God bless the ones that died, and God bless the Aggies!

I wear my bonfire memorial shirt that day every year.

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