Want to make sure GOPisEvil sees this--what our alma mater did last night.

[Shakespeare]

I haven't been able to find a link, but on the local news this morning they mentioned that A&M held a special silver taps last night for the Virginia Tech shooting victims (and showed about a minute of video of the darkened campus, with the bugler playing in the background). I was so glad (and proud) to see that they did that, and I can't remember a special silver taps ever being held before, especially for non-Ags.

For those of you who don't know what silver taps is:

http://aggietraditions.tamu.edu/silvertaps.shtml

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.

[Madrone]

1. Make sure you kick it in the afternoon -

Like around 3pm PST time. He'll see it then. :hi:

[Shakespeare]

2. Thanks, I'll do that! We Aggies can identify a little...

....with the grief they're dealing with; the bonfire tragedy almost 8 years ago was devastating to student and alumnus alike. :cry:

[LostinVA]

3. Very nice

:cry:

[Midlodemocrat]

4. How beautiful. Thank you for posting this.

I'm emailing this to Tech folks as we speak. Much, much appreciated.

[Shakespeare]

7. You're welcome. Silver Taps is one of the most moving things I've ever experienced.

And as I said above, I don't think it's EVER been done for non-A&M students before. A&M has much in common with Va Tech, as they both have big ROTC programs (A&M used to be all military; not sure about Tech).

A&M and Tech have sent more soldiers into service than any organizations outside of the (collective) service academies. Both schools also have more Medal of Honor recipients than any outside the service academies.

[GOPisEvil]

10. Virginia Tech and A&M are very similar in many ways.

Both original land grant schools, located out of the way in small towns, even similar school colors.

[Shakespeare]

12. Yup. Those of us who went to land grant schools are probably the only ones...

...who know off the tops of our heads what the Morrill Act was. :hi:

[GOPisEvil]

13. Exactly.

In fact, I used to be able list all the original schools. (Hint: if there's a "State, Tech or A&M" in the school's name, it's probably a land grant school.)

[Midlodemocrat]

5. I just got this cartoon in an email. Pretty nice.

[soleft]

6. My brother in law went to both schools

masters at Texas A&M and phd at VA Tech.

[Shakespeare]

8. Finally found a link that mentions it.

Along with a picture of the bugler.

http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2007/04/17/News/No.Motive.To.Massacre-2845516.shtml

[Midlodemocrat]

11. Thanks, again, Shakespeare.

I got a lot of responses from earlier when I sent it on to Tech folks. A lot of tears were shed. Very, very nice.


:hug:

[GOPisEvil]

9. Wow! That's pretty nice.

I have to give it to the Aggies. As much as there is to criticize with our alma mater, they have some great traditions and honor special events well. I remember the "Red, White and Blue Out" as opposed to the Maroon Out following 9/11.

Thanks for posting that. I haven't seen or heard of a special Silver Taps either.

[texas1928]

14. That is nice.

Always will like my Aggies.