I was in Groveton hunting deer with a fellow Horn. We were joking about how we hoped we would pound the ags when we saw the news on tv. I'll never forget how sad I was when I saw what happened. Bonfire 12....rest in peace in Heaven.

Hook 'em

I think that a big reason why the A&M and Texas rivalry isnt a nasty one full of hatred is in large part, thanks to Bonfire and how the Horns and their fans carried themselves in lending a hand to their fellow Texans. I have so much respect for UT for this, their student body and their entire school could have cared less about what happened but they didnt.

Bonfire is something that I will probably never be able to see, but despite this, I think Bonfire was indeed THE tradition at Texas A&M. More than representing the burning desire to beat Texas, it represented the unity and bond that we as Aggies share.

To the Horn fans, thank you for your continous respect when it comes to Bonfire. We are rivals and we "hate" each other on the field but when things like these happen, its good to know that you can set rivalries aside and reach out to each other.

Fightin Texas Aggie Class of 2009
A-A-A-A-A

"From the outside looking in you dont understand it, from the inside looking out you can't explain it" -Texas Aggies "

"For all us Longhorns to discount A&M in our neverending rivalry, we need to realize one thing. Aggieland is a special place with special people" -UT Student Body President Eric Opiela '99 in rememberance of the Aggie Bonfire tragedy.

Here.

here, i am one of the fortunate few of my class that has seen a couple of bonfires before. when i try to explain to my friends that were never got to see a bonfire what it was like to watch all Aggies come together and celebrate something so amazing, i can never do it justice. i was at the game in '99. it will always be the most memorable, heartwrenching game ever played in my opinion.

Amen, I will never forget calling my office manager and telling her to find her daughter who was a student at the time at A&M and make sure she was safe. Rivalries are fun and running smack is fun but at the end of the day these are our family from brothers and sister to cousins, co-workers, sometimes spouses and often good friends. That which unites us is far greater than that which divides us.

[This message has been edited by FWHORN (edited 11/14/2006 8:54a).]

I go to the game every year and that year was one of the most emotional I have ever attended.

Two things stand out: the Longhorn band halftime tribute is one. The other: I bought a maroon ribbon and put it in my orange hat that day and about a thousand Aggies either thanked me or walked up and shook my hand.

I saved the hat, saved the ribbon and still wear it every T+1.

And I was glad you won that day. And hope you never do again.

That was me senior year at A&M. I woke up to sirens early in the morning. That day was a complete blur.

UT really helped us get through the tough times after bonfire with blood drives and prayer vigils. The 90 miles between Austin and College Station don't seem as far as they did before November of 1999.

I drove down for the candle ceremony at the bonfire sight . Thanks for making me remember whats important.

[This message has been edited by guitarboysdad (edited 11/14/2006 10:44a).]

Here. Those guys will never be forgotten.


-----------------------------
H-Town representing:

AggieSunrise, G.I. Longhorn, Stalin!, Whoop!'91, Igototech, Nwhoustonag, houstontexan, Bluefire579, Marvin Dorfla, JoeAg, kb2001, Boudreaux Tibidoux, texaggie2007, txag007, Lazlo Hollyfeld mazag08, AgMarauder04, 13 0 Branding Iron, anaggieshusband BlakeGoodAg08, aggiebame, tamuag09, Mr. Randy Watson, Tex117, TRIDENT, oldschool87, VegasAg99, SmartGuy, Aliasman02is_a_genius

I posted this twice on the football board and it got buried both times without response.


I really think it is sad that we can't stop ragging on Fran long enough to remember these AGS.

Hearing the news of bonfire ranks second only to 9/11 as to the "I'll always remember where I was when I heard..." In both cases I was backing out of my driveway turning on the radio. To this day when I turn on the radio first thing and I hear something like "Breaking news..." I get flashbacks and my heart skips a beat.

May God comfort the families and loved ones left behind.

Ski,

I agree. I've always felt like I'll never forget exactly where I was and how the day unfolded on both of those days. I sometimes feel like, if you asked me to, I could retrace every step I took on both of those days.

It's so hard to believe that it has almost been seven years. I still get choked up just thinking about it.

"The Longhorn Band would like to dedicate its performance today to the 12 Texas A&M students who died in last week's bonfire trajedy. We extend our deepest sympathies to all Aggies, especially to those families of those injured and deceased. Our two institutions are great rivals, but more importantly great friends, who have the highest ammount of respect for each other. May the Longhorn Spirit, and the Spirit of Aggieland, never die."

http://lhb.music.utexas.edu/shows_1999/1999/amazinggraceb_hi.ram



[This message has been edited by sodiumacetate (edited 11/14/2006 12:43p).]

here

I keep all 12 names on my desk at work under a clear mat.
I had them memorized and said them all last Thanksgiving. I need to remember the list again for this year.

Miranda Adams, Christopher Breen, Michael Ebanks, Jeremy Frampton, Jamie Hand, Christopher Heard, Timothy Kerlee, Jr, Lucas Kimmel, Bryan McClain, Chad Powell, Jerry Don Self, & Scott West.

If anyone knows of nicknames they preferred please post.

The Kerlee's have spoken at our local A&M club - incredibly strong and wonderful people

I don't have very many ties to A&M, other than Aggie friends, but I did date an Aggie back in 1996. When the bonfire stack fell, lots of memories of the campus and College Station flooded my mind. I was deeply saddened by the tragedy.

Since then, I have gotten to walk through the Bonfire Memorial. I was truly moved. May this kind of tragedy never mar our rivalry again.

May we who were witnesses, and who knew how "big" Bonfire was never forget the losses, and may we keep Bonfire alive in memory.

Here.

I walked around your stadium that day with a burnt-orange hat and a maroon shirt, and though my blood is orange, on that day, behind that cause, my blood was maroon. I was an aggie fan.

The emotions, the emptiness, the sadness comes in such harsh waves of tears, incomprehension, and in an unforgettable sense of pride in your fellow man and institutions. Words do not do justice to what Bonfire means and to what Bonfire was.

Bonfire was Texas A&M. It defined family, unity, diversity, rivalry and tradition. Our university has a void because of the tradjedy that claimed 12. My sense of pride in my Aggies and in my fellow Texans swells everytime I think back to that devastating week. Thank you to every longhorn that remembers and remembers fondly that our rivalry is confined to stadiums, and the bond that is between us as men and women, and as texans that love our people, THAT is the true spirit that unites.

I feel saddened that I do not remember that time more. I have spent so much time wishing it never happened. It has. It did. How events like that shape our future defines how much it means to us. Thank you to all fellow texans that thought of us ags during that time!

i had the privelege of listening to one of the people who was injured in the bonfire speak last year, and i remember him talking about how much all the support from the longhorns meant to him and all of the aggies who were affected by it.

people ask where the hate has gone in the rivalry, but i dont really think it could ever come back after all that texas did for us that year.

[This message has been edited by Aliasman02is_a_genius (edited 11/14/2006 2:21p).]

gmf, alias, minds and hearts like yours are why I will always have a love in me for Texas A&M. WE are all from mother Texas, and I love yall like brothers. Im bringing this attitude to the game, and just like every other year, my colors will be mixed.

TTT

TexasBorn, thank you for the kind words. Our 2 fine instutions do not like each other on athletic fields. We each want to win. It is a rivalry. Yet the mutual respect for each institution should and does rise above the petty squabbling that we endure across both sides. Texas A&M is a great university that any of our children should be proud to attend. University of Texas (tu to us) is a great university that any of our children should be proud to attend. The contributions to society are vast and the impact that both institutions graduates have on the well being of humanity are countless.

Thank you for remembering our loss, our emptiness, and that we both want the best for each other, accept for on the athletic fields. I await the day when the a&m v. tu matchup in every sport has National Championships implications! Yall are keeping your end of the bargain. We are slowing making steps toward that!

Bonfire! We will always remember and can never forget!

I never got to see the longhorn band on that football game. What did they do?

Edit: Nm just noticed the 'audio' link is actually a video link.

I would think it's something akin to our high school rival after 9/11. Both bands went on the field, stood alternating ranks, and played The Star Spangled Banner and some other patriotic songs which I can't remember at this moment. Very moving and incredible to be a part of.

Wish I could have experienced the longhorn half time show personally but I was 12 as well at that time and didn't even know about A&M until, ironically, after the bonfire collapse happend. And then I got interested in the school and here I am.


And for any Ags that have not been out to the Bonfire Memorial yet (yah, there are a few, it's sad) take the time to go out there some day. It's worth your while. And that's understating it.

[This message has been edited by Ag20?? (edited 11/14/2006 7:39p).]

look at the link.

"Ye Shall Know The Truth And The Truth Shall Make You Free"

Hey to those who were at the 1999 Bonfire game, Did the Aggie Band play over the Eyes of Texas at the end of the Game?

Somebody is trying to tell me that they did, I just can't see it happening

[This message has been edited by Tex117 (edited 11/14/2006 8:12p).]

Hey, can anyone put that video into a WMP format for me. I've really wanted to see this for a while, and don't want to download real player to watch it. Thanks.

I was in Santa Fe the day that game was played, but I was at home in Dallas when the stack went over days before. My younger son, a Marine reservist at the time, was a student at A&M and his fellow reservists went to the fallen stack and worked to remove bodies. He was not as overcome from his combat experiences in Iraq as he was the recovery of bodies that day.
Though he never finished his degree at A&M, I remain proud that he did his best on that day.

I am proud of all of you, as well.

Keep the faith. We will return to glory.