Boy, this is a tough one. I can see both sides to it. My father was on campus with the original Rev and my aunt wrote the most beautiful poem about her I've ever read.
One point:
quote:
It's not just for Rev. She holds the rank she does and has always been given the honors she has as a thank you from the DoD for A&M's service in WWII. It's an honor she's given as thanks for the service of A&M and the sacrifice of fellow Aggies
A bit of a quibble with this. According to a book that I read and re-read as a kid and still have in my possession, "The Story of Texas A&M" (George Sessions Perry, 1951), the original Reveille became a general thusly:
quote:
The Corps came to realize the fact that its chubby little mascot would pass on some time soon and decided to immortalize her. The way was opened when the WAGS division of Dogs for Defense was created. Any dog owner could purchase a rank for his dog, the cost ranging from one dollar for a private to $100 for a general's commission.
With her extensive military background, Reveille was definitely qualified to be a General, and a drive was launched among students in the summer of 1943 to obtain the necessary funds.
Edit: the article in the Batt got it right:
quote:
"The tradition of giving each Reveille mascot a military burial began in 1944 when Reveille I died," according to the A&M press release. "As part of a national fundraiser for World War I (sic--that should say WWII), A&M cadets had raised money to get Reveille I commissioned as a general in the military. When she died a year later, it seemed only appropriate to give her a military funeral," said Serold.
[This message has been edited by OldArmy71 (edited 8/28/2013 9:19a).]
