As a Texas A&M graduate, retired military, and one who deeply appreciates and honors the sacrifices made by our brave troops in all battles, I was struck by the noble gesture made by our Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, yesterday at my Alma Mater.
Mr. Gates—himself a former president of Texas A&M University—returned to the school he once led to honor 22 former students who died in military action in the past year.
Gates began that most venerable Aggie tradition—the annual roll call of fallen Aggies—with the poignant words “Softly call the Muster,” and read the names of the 22 Aggie Fallen Heroes.
More than 12,000 Aggies, relatives, and friends answered “here” in place of the heroes.
The Aggie Muster tradition goes back over a century. According to the Association of Former Texas A&M Students:
Since the founding of Texas A&M, every Aggie has lived and become a part of the Aggie Spirit. What we feel today is not just the camaraderie of fellow Aggies, it is the Spirit of hundreds of thousands of Aggies who have gone before us, and who will come after us. Muster is how that Spirit is remembered and celebrated, and it will always continue to unite Texas A&M and the Aggie family. A&M may change, but the Spirit never will.
The tradition of Muster has grown in strength, meaning, and spirit. By 1929, the meetings had spread worldwide, and in 1942 Aggie Muster gained international recognition. Twenty-five men, led by General George Moore ’08, Mustered during the Japanese siege of the Philippine island of Corregidor. Knowing that Muster might soon be called for them, these Aggies embodied the commitment, dedication, and friendship that is the essence of the Aggie Spirit. They risked their lives to honor their beliefs and values. That small group of Aggies on an outpost during World War II inspired what has developed into one of our greatest traditions.
Today, Muster is celebrated in more than 300 places worldwide, with the largest ceremony taking place on the Texas A&M campus in College Station. The ceremony brings together more Aggies worldwide on one occasion than any other event.
And so it was yesterday, with Secretary Gates solemnly saying, “Muster is the greatest of Aggie traditions. Muster is the essence of Aggie culture and spirit. The ceremony has no parallel in any other institution in America – not in the armed forces, not in the CIA, not in business, and certainly not in any other college or university.”
And, about Texas A&M, “Its excellence is built on a firm foundation and time honored and proven values and treasured traditions. The Aggie culture is grounded in patriotism, religious faith however expressed, love of family, loyalty to one another, an old-fashioned work ethic, a sense of duty and the importance of service to others and to the country, and a shared belief of the supreme importance of character and integrity.”
Please read more about the Muster Tradition here, or here
Gates’ presence at A&M is probably best covered here
A proud Aggie
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.