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Almost forgot "Uncover!"

Like many of you I now live far from Texas. My ring reminds me everyday of where I came from, who I am and what I stand for. I have met Aggies from the bottom of the Grand Canyon to Paris to Instanbul because of our Aggie rings. I have also had plenty of people ask me why I still wear my high school ring and I just laugh. If you have to ask "why a ring?", don't worry about it. It doesn't concern you. Those of us who wear it know the answer and that is all that matters.

It's like a membership ID card to the best fraternity there is and ever will be.



[This message has been edited by VA_Ag94 (edited 9/5/2013 2:26p).]

I live in SE Washington state, a long way from Texas and TAMU. Don't run into many Ags up here. One day a number of years ago, I was sitting in my pickup at a stop light in the Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick & Richland). My truck has an A&M decal on the back window. Another car pulled up along side and the driver shouted over something like: "I saw your A&M decal but do you have it on?" at the same time holding up his hand with his Aggie Ring. Because I wear mine all the time, I replied something like: "Damn bettcha" and held up my right hand. He gave me a Gig'em as the light turned and he pulled away. I still remember getting a case of the shivers as we parted ways. My wife who was with me is an Oregon grad, & was very impressed with display of comradery the ring brings about.

I have my ring but no AGTAG am I missing something?

one of my earliest memories of my Dad I remember noticing his HUGE Aggie ring. (at least it seemed huge to me as a kid)

Earning my Aggie ring was a big accomplishment for me as everyone else has mentioned and I felt I was following a family tradition at that point.

I've been introduced in business meetings, 2500 miles from Campus "he's an Aggie, and he has The Ring"

[This message has been edited by Ag_from_birth (edited 9/5/2013 3:33p).]

See my post from last April.

http://mobile.texags.com/Forums/5/Topics/2297501?page=1

Living in Arkansas you are fully aware of the Walmart fans. The ring is an instant identifier when you see an Aggie shirt or hat that they are a former student. They are the ones that if they have not spotted your ring that will look for your ring when you say Howdy.

Wore mine daily as a DPS Trooper and still wear it. I am also proud to say never wrote another Aggie a ticket. That ring saved more than a few.

If I die before my girls , they know to melt it and make their rings.

It helps with networking and everything, but what makes it so special for me is the history of a lot of the great people that wear the same ring that I do . A lot of men fought and died fighting for our country wearing our ring. I had the privilege of meeting a great man that had survived the Batton death match that said his aggie ring saved his life.

I struck up conversations with a pilot and a WWII vet within two hours of landing in Albany, NY becuase we noticed our Aggie rings.

It's also been an instant credit check in a new city. When I asked if I needed to put anything down to set up the account, the guy said, "Nah, I see your Aggie ring. I know you're good for it."

You spent four years at a top tier university, earned what is most likely the education that will provide for you and your family, bonded with fellow classmates in an atmosphere conducive to learning, reflection, and some great parties. That graduation is a symbol of a heavy investment in your future, and will remind you of what you achieved in hopefully a successful, happy life.

You spent four years at a top tier university, earned what is most likely the education that will provide for you and your family, bonded with fellow classmates in an atmosphere conducive to learning, reflection, and some great parties. That graduation ring is a symbol of a heavy investment in your future, and will remind you of what you achieved in hopefully a successful, happy life.

Sorry for the DP.

Duke, If you knew what it meant to be an Aggie then you would have know more about the importance of the Aggie Ring. "From the inside looking out you can't explain it, from the outside looking in you can't understand it".

Aggies love it

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I have my ring but no AGTAG am I missing something?

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Did you graduate? Texags has a joint partnership with the aggienetwork, you have to register there I think.

Like many have said, it is a mark of a true graduate of A&M. I don't know what the requirements are now, but when I got mine, it was 95 hours, on-track to graduate and in good standing with the school (no outstanding fees or bills).

I was a non-traditional student, class of '88 actually dropping out in 1986 and returning and graduating in 1997. I remember the wry smile I got from the lady behind the desk when I ordered my ring.

One nice thing about Aggie rings that different. Ours are solid gold, not hollow like what you get with a lot of other Balfour products. Every so often people ask and I let them hold it, they always comment about how heavy it is.

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Gig'em s!

You can't beat the Aggie network. I benefitted from an Aggie Flight supervisor at an American Airlines gate in Maryland. He got me on a flight that was overbooked. He saw the ring and helped out a fellow AG.

Let's put it this way- I lost my wedding ring at the lake at a bachelor party. I called my wife to tell her I lost my ring, and in a panic asked if it was my Aggie ring. When I told her it was my wedding ring, her response was, "Oh, good- just your wedding ring."

And she didn't even go to A&M.

I live and work in another state. People who know me have come to accept that I'm going to run into Aggies in stores, restaurants, or just walking down the street on account of my Aggie ring. They also know that when it happens, we'll get back to whatever was going on once we Aggies have had our little chat.

I love it every time. It's one of the truly great experiences about being an Aggie.

I chugged 5 beers for my ring and I get a sense of pride from that.

Foreigners cannot understand why Americans put their hand over their heart when they sing the national anthem. Most believe it is corny and imperialistic in a nazi sort of way. I believe it was Ronald Reagan? that said "Texans ate America's Americans and Aggies are Texas' Texans."

We wear our ring for the same reason you put your hand over your heart when you say the pledge of allegiance. Our university just means so much more to us than it does to graduates of most other schools. Just, as your country probably means more to you than residents of most other countries.

It's definitely a recognition thing. I work in retail and meet old an current Ags nearly everyday. We have an instant bond that we may have never known about had it not been for the rings. Great convo ensues.

with 6 pages of this thread, you can tell it means a lot to all of us.

I second tbirdspur2010-

Senior boots and Aggie ring mean the world to me. Unfortunately, I haven't worn my boots in 15 years, but I wear my ring every where. In fact, the few times I left the house without it, I turned around to get it. The few times I thought I lost it I almost had a panic attack.

In a little town near Normandy Beach in France. Got off the train at a little hotel that was the starting point for a D-Day tour. Stenciled on the window of the bar/cafe were the words "Welcome to our Liberators!" The hotel owner's Dad was on site and was there when General Rudder and his Rangers liberated the city. He and his son both knew of Rudder's ties to "the Texas Aggies" on my shirt. He also knew about the ring I was wearing and proceeded to tell us first account stories for hours.

Honeymooning for a month over the summer island hopping in Thailand, met maybe 30 americans and at least ten were Ags. Rings

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You can't just walk into any jewelry store and have one made, however you want.

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Actually you can, it just won't be the official class ring of Texas A&M University. The Balfour company has a copyright on the design.

Sqdn. 7, RV

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Actually you can, it just won't be the official class ring of Texas A&M University. The Balfour company has a copyright on the design.

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And that jeweler would be sent a cease and desist letter. The Association owns the trademark on the ring, not Balfour. And they defend that trademark strongly.

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Proud Ag. Three diplomas from the school. Never going to wear the ring.

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Why not? Just curious.

You can find one for sale on eBay most days

It is an official introduction into the Aggie family. You can always spot an Aggie from a mile away with one on their hand. It symbolizes the sweat and tears you put into your work as a student here at the university. Even though I haven't earned mine yet, my dad let me wear his when I was a kid. It was a special feeling even then. Its a special tradition for all Aggies.

A&M is a tough school to graduate from. Classes were tough in the late 70's when I was there. My son is there now and I do believe it is much tougher now than back then. The message is that many businesses looking to hire a graduate really don't care what your major was--they simply know that if you were smart enough and willing to work hard enough to get that ring from TAMU, then you will surely be easily trainable to whatever tasks they might need you for. They know that you can learn and will learn. Aggie pride--honor, integrity and work ethic. The ring proves it. GIG 'em!!!