*Non-Lightning*
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*Non-Lightning*
I know that this is a "Lightning" board and that this post is "non-Lightning", but I feel that it is important enough to be said. For any of those who feel that this is inappropriate, I apopogize.
As many of y'all may know (from my signature or elsewhere), November 18th is a day that sits heavy in the hearts of Aggies all around the world.
You see, every year since 1909 the students of Texas A&M University have built a Bonfire to represent our "burning desire to beat the hell outta' t.u." (the University of Texas). However, throughout the years, this tradition has grown from the piling up of and burning of wood to an event that brings the university together. Non-Regs (regular students; non-Corps), members of the Corps of Cadets, dorms, frats, sororities, or whoever all set aside their differences for a few weeks in the fall to come together and build one of the most recognized symbols of Aggieland.
Last year on Thursday, November 18th, I was awakened at 4am by a phonecall from my brother asking if I was alright and making sure that I wasn't at the Bonfire site working. "Yeah. I'm fine. What's going on?" "Stack fell last night," he said. "I just wanted to make sure that you are fine so I can call mom and dad and tell them that we are okay." "Stack fell?" I said. "Yeah. It's really bad. Turn on CNN." The images from the following hours are ones I'll never forget. A twisted pile of logs. Kids crying. Football players alongside students helping carry off the larger logs. Organized chaos. I can't describe the feeling of helplessness of knowing that you have friends that were on stack last night that have not been accounted for yet.
When all was said and done, we had lost 12 Aggies. Strange; almost disturbing. 12. A number very dear to our school, "Aggieland. Home of the 12th Man." 12 of our family of 43,000 are gone. The university will never be the same again. Bonfire as we know it will never exist again.
This past year has been very difficult for many Aggies. Our school was cast in the national spotlight and we were forced to listen to criticism from people who have never and probably will never set foot on the campus of Texas A&M University. Many don't understand the traditions of our school and will never know that it is possible to feel a great loss for someone you have never met before. However, I feel that we are beginning to realize how difficult this must be for outsiders to understand.
Tonight, regardless of your personal thoughts or opinions about Bonfire, I ask all of y'all to say a prayer for the families of the fallen 12 as well as Texas A&M University. Tomorrow morning at 2:42am thousands of Aggies will gather at the site of last year's collapse to hold a memorial service in honor of those lost in what has proven to be the greatest tragedy in the lengthy history of our school.
I know this has been a lengthy post and that I'm not the most eloquent with words, so I thank y'all for letting me open up and get some things off my chest.
Gus Gruner
Texas A&M class of 2001.
WHOOP!
------------------
November 18, 1999 We will not forget.
The fallen 12 will live in our hearts forever.
Fightin' Texas Aggie Bonfire 1999
[This message has been edited by DUCK01 (edited 11-17-2000).]
[This message has been edited by DUCK01 (edited 11-17-2000).]
As many of y'all may know (from my signature or elsewhere), November 18th is a day that sits heavy in the hearts of Aggies all around the world.
You see, every year since 1909 the students of Texas A&M University have built a Bonfire to represent our "burning desire to beat the hell outta' t.u." (the University of Texas). However, throughout the years, this tradition has grown from the piling up of and burning of wood to an event that brings the university together. Non-Regs (regular students; non-Corps), members of the Corps of Cadets, dorms, frats, sororities, or whoever all set aside their differences for a few weeks in the fall to come together and build one of the most recognized symbols of Aggieland.
Last year on Thursday, November 18th, I was awakened at 4am by a phonecall from my brother asking if I was alright and making sure that I wasn't at the Bonfire site working. "Yeah. I'm fine. What's going on?" "Stack fell last night," he said. "I just wanted to make sure that you are fine so I can call mom and dad and tell them that we are okay." "Stack fell?" I said. "Yeah. It's really bad. Turn on CNN." The images from the following hours are ones I'll never forget. A twisted pile of logs. Kids crying. Football players alongside students helping carry off the larger logs. Organized chaos. I can't describe the feeling of helplessness of knowing that you have friends that were on stack last night that have not been accounted for yet.
When all was said and done, we had lost 12 Aggies. Strange; almost disturbing. 12. A number very dear to our school, "Aggieland. Home of the 12th Man." 12 of our family of 43,000 are gone. The university will never be the same again. Bonfire as we know it will never exist again.
This past year has been very difficult for many Aggies. Our school was cast in the national spotlight and we were forced to listen to criticism from people who have never and probably will never set foot on the campus of Texas A&M University. Many don't understand the traditions of our school and will never know that it is possible to feel a great loss for someone you have never met before. However, I feel that we are beginning to realize how difficult this must be for outsiders to understand.
Tonight, regardless of your personal thoughts or opinions about Bonfire, I ask all of y'all to say a prayer for the families of the fallen 12 as well as Texas A&M University. Tomorrow morning at 2:42am thousands of Aggies will gather at the site of last year's collapse to hold a memorial service in honor of those lost in what has proven to be the greatest tragedy in the lengthy history of our school.
I know this has been a lengthy post and that I'm not the most eloquent with words, so I thank y'all for letting me open up and get some things off my chest.
Gus Gruner
Texas A&M class of 2001.
WHOOP!
------------------
November 18, 1999 We will not forget.
The fallen 12 will live in our hearts forever.
Fightin' Texas Aggie Bonfire 1999
[This message has been edited by DUCK01 (edited 11-17-2000).]
[This message has been edited by DUCK01 (edited 11-17-2000).]
