First time I watch this video and boy did I cry.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IQOs_ZhAgcI

Guys, as a horn, I have to admit that that event was one of the most saddest days in my life.

Horns and Ags put their hatred aside and morned in respect to the 12 fallen Aggies. I know those guys are in heaven watching all of us.

We must NEVER forget them. Never. Even as a horn, I love those guys.


I am so glad y'all won that game! And I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

page 1

here.

Nice post.

chokes me up to this day.

quote:

---

To all our fallen Aggies,
I want you all to wear my ring today
since you who have passed will never get
to experience the joy and happiness i was fortunate enough to feel. I want you all to have my ring for awhile.
You will live in out hearts forever.

---

I remember that game like it was yesterday.

One of the saddest days of my life.

Can still remember how quiet Kyle Field was at the candlelight Yell Practice.

[This message has been edited by Rollie is Allsome (edited 11/13/2006 8:37p).]

if someone could find the link or transcript of Chip Theil's (sp?) speech from the dedication ceremony, this would be a great time/place for it.

I had to pause the video to read the message.


That made my tears rush down my face.

Gig'em, GI

Chip Thiel. I was Chip's pisshead.

Here you go ragin.

http://www.texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?topic_id=528356&forum_id=14



[This message has been edited by G.I. Longhorn (edited 11/13/2006 8:53p).]

quote:

---

Chip's Speech from the dedication:

Five years ago I stood on top of the world perched
atop 4th stack with 3 dear friends of mine watching
Aggies build what is one of our greatest traditions.
Suddenly, in some unforeseeable twist of fate, my life changed, the life of every Aggie that came before and after me changed. Texas A&M changed.

As a natural result Texas A&M has to adapt to a life without bonfire on campus. As we celebrate the
memories of 12 aggies whose lives were cut short as they willingly participated in this university's
greatest tradition, I would like to reflect on the contagious spirit of a tradition left behind.

My favorite time of year comes in the fall, when the northern air arrives to push the humidity down to a reasonable level, to turn leaves brown, and to remind me and Ags everywhere that it is bonfire weather.
Many current students do not know the meaning bonfire weather and many former students have let the memory fade. Bonfire weather is the time of year when aggies unselfishly sacrifice time, grades, and everything in between to cut, load, transport, unload, and stack a forest full of trees to create the largest bonfire in the world.

It was bigger than necessary and defied reason and
possibility, but we would not have it any other way.
While it would have been more efficient to use modern technologies and equipment, we chose to do it as it was done for 90 years; with sweat, blisters, grunts, groans, teamwork, axes, machetes, ropes, chains, wire,over-sized nails, pliers, steel toed boots, carhartt jackets, generous donations, left handed sky hooks,
FFE semi's, muddy pick-ups, muffler less tractors,
scarecrows, and perimeter pole fires. Then just
before the fightin Texas aggie football team squared
off against the ladies from Austin, we burned it in an arrogantly flamboyant ceremony that said, "We are the Aggies, the Aggies are we." While 10s of 000's gathered annually to witness the big fire, the cadets, non-regs, O.C. hogs, brownpots, yellowpots, butt-pots, crew chiefs, centerpolepots, pink pots, redpots, bonfire buddies, blacks, women, asians, men, whites,
latinos, and randoms who had invested 000's of hours of sweat equity in that stack of wood knew that the only reason we burned it was to clear the Polo Fields so that we could do it all over again next year.

I would now like to take you back to a day prior to Nov 18, 1999 to enjoy what many Ags enjoyed...a common day at bonfire. Not to diminish the memories of the fallen, but to burn into your memory why they were here that night. If you would like, go ahead and close your eyes and take a nostalgic journey back to the good ol days.

As you make your way to the polo fields, first you
hear it. It's dark outside and you are walking across a sleeping and studying campus. Steel toe boots clunking along the sidewalk. A chain jingles at your side that is taped to your pliers. Your pot rattles a little. The first sounds from the field emerge as the buzz of chainsaws, tractor engines, and then some faint music. A nearly worn out Jerry Jeff tape moans out "desperadoes waiting for a train..." Then you can hear the shouts and your pace quickens. "1-2 halfway up, I need a log right here, gimmie some wire, I want my chain back, headache!, I need a heave." all mixed
with the proper expletives.

Then you can see it. A home made flag waves atop an oppressive hulk of a structure lit by old beat up gas lights atop leaning perimeter poles. A chill of Aggie pride runs down your spine. A mass of people are there; some working, some watching. A huge crane lifts another log and swings it gently into place.

Then you can smell it. Smoke from perimeter fires,
mud or dust depending on the year, chainsaw mix, cigar smoke, stale coffee, non-reg's grodes, sawdust and fresh cut hardwood.


Then you can taste it. You flick a dead bee off an
old donut and wash it down with coffee that tastes
like it was made last week. On your way to the stack, you put in a dip of Copenhagen...no less than a third of the can.

Finally you can feel it. A chilly north wind, oaky
bark, cold wire, metal pliers, a 2x8 for a seat in a swing on third stack, perimeter ropes nearby. You survey your quadrant and agree with your ground man where you need to concentrate. You spy a penny nail a few logs in. You get it and stick it through the hole in the sleeve of your jacket so you can use it later. Then you shout with all of your might I NEED SOME WIRE AND A LOG UP HERE RIGHT NOW!!! Again sprinkled with expletives.

At the end of the shift, the sun is peeking up over
the oak trees. You work your way down the stack.
Your voice is spent. You walk back to the dorm joking with your friends...probably your friends for years to come. All of you tired, but proud to be Aggies and united by the fire.

That is the Bonfire I knew, that is the Bonfire I
miss.


God Bless America and the Soldiers that defend her.

Gig'em Chip Thiel '00

---

http://www.kbtx.com/unclassified/1143796.html

helps to put all of this in reality. we're all fellow texans, regardless of where our allegiances lie.

That was one of the saddest weekends I can remember. As a horn, I took the trip to the game with a good friend from HS that had worked on Bonfire as a freshman (class of '96). All the rivalry, all the competition, all the hate....left the stadium when both bands took the field together in remembrance to those 12 proud souls. We cried together. And I gained a profound respect for A&M that has never left to this day.

Good luck Ag's. Here's to your program's resurgence and continued success!

I just watched the speech again. Damn.

me too. he did a fantastic job...and painted a great picture for those that never got to experience it.

thank you for the post, GI.

[This message has been edited by FormerStudent91 (edited 11/13/2006 9:10p).]

I don't post on here often but I read alot. I went to high school with Chad Powell and his brother Josh. I was in scouts with Josh and remember often playing games and just hanging out with Chad after meetings. I still remember the events of that week well. It was the first time I ever remember a teacher telling us to get into groups of five and use our books to take a test. Our televisions throughout the school were tuned to Texas Cable News all day long and basically Keller High School shut down for a day. Chad you are still missed, as well as the other 11 that lost their lives on that day. I will never forget, and will continue to pray for friends, family, all involved, and those that were affected by this terrible tragedy.

[This message has been edited by ChemHORN (edited 11/13/2006 10:45p).]

Good bull, Horns.

and people said my freshman year would be tough. they had no idea...

Here. Thanks for the kind words of remembrance.

here

here


great post

You guys got rocked and life ain't too fun when God makes you question everything you thought you believed in.

My thoughts and prayers are really with this thread and all it represents.

Here.

My kids first Aggie game at Kyle and we watch the video of the game and the bands at least once a year. I still can't get through halftime without a tear or two. I'll never forget the longhorn band, classiest move that brought every Aggie respect for those kids and our rival.

Great post and putting it all in perspective.

TTT

very, very, very sad.

God Bless the families of the victums and the Aggie brothers and sisters that lost so much.

This was a really sad day in this State's history.

I was only 12 when it happened; I didn't fully understand what truly happened.

Darkest hour.

here.