Texas Aggie Muster

I went to college at Texas A&M University - a very unique and tradition-filled place. That Aggies are different is certainly no news to anyone in Texas, but as a growing number of my readers are from outside the state, I figured I'd let you in on the secret. They often say about Aggie traditions that "From the outside looking in, you can't understand it and from the inside looking out, you can't explain it." Nonetheless, I'll try.

Texas A&M was originally a military school founded in 1876. Even years after our school was opened to the general public, we still retain a lot of our old military-based traditions. One tradition - indeed the greatest one - is something called Aggie muster.

Starting in the late 1800s, A&M students and alumni would gather every April 21 - the anniversary of the Batttle of San Jacinto during the Texas Revolution. At first it was a gathering intended to relive old days at the university with old friends. But as those initial students began to grow older, it evolved into a memorial service for those who had passed on. Eventually, it became an annual tradition (the only one of its kind in America) where the entire Aggie world - alumni and students alike - gather and honor those Aggies who have died in the past year.

As each of the names of those who have passed away is called out in a military-style roll call, someone in the crowd - a family member or friend - answers for them: "Here." A candle is then lit. It is an awesome, sobering tribute, which would be poignant enough if not for what happened one April 21, when Aggies gathered together far from home.

On April 21, 1942, America was at war. After the Japanese smashed Pearl Harbor, they invaded the Phillipines, quickly overrunning most of the islands and isolating the heavily-outnumbered American garrison. Our troops, led by Gen. MacArthur, retreated to the harbor island of Corregidor, where they held out for months despite continual air raids and shellfire from Japanese Navy ships. Hidden in caves dug into the hillsides, the troops held out against hope for relief - relief that would never come. And so it was that on that April 21, several Aggies - led by an Army general, gathered and held muster for their friends who had died in the battle. Even as air raids sounded above them, they met, and as the names were read out, called "Here."

Back home, America was fixated by Corregidor and listened daily to radio broadcasts from the Pacific bastion. When the story of the Texas Aggie muster was broadcast to the world, the nation's spotlight fell with pride on Texas A&M.

Ever since then, Muster has had a very important meaning for all of us, and like Aggies everywhere, I was convinced that I would not miss it this year. And as it turned out, I didn't. I went to this year's Muster here in Baghdad, and it was an extrordinary experience. Getting back the following day, I quickly hammered out my experiences and posted them on an A&M-related website. Then I went home and got some sleep. By the morning, my post had 7,000 views and hundreds of responses. I got unsolicited emails from Aggies all over the world thanking me for my account. The office of the Vice President of Student Affairs asked if they could post it onto their website. I said yes. So here it is:

http://studentaffairs.tamu.edu/spotlight.aspx