"Softly Call The Muster..."

 Aggie Muster 2010

Our family returned home last evening from College Station, Texas where my father attended college at Texas A&M back in the 1940's.  We went to College Station to attend Aggie Muster 2010. Aggie Muster is a time-honored tradition at Texas A&M University. Each year, Muster is celebrated in more than 400 places worldwide to honor fallen Aggies and to celebrate and reflect on their lives. Muster is A&M's single most sacred and time-honored tradition.

My father was proud to be a Fightin' Texas Aggie.
Class of 1944

He passed away April 30, 2009.

Aggie Muster began with The Reflections Display at Rudder Hall. Each family had items that reflected their loved ones lives. It was truly a moving experience to be with and meet other families that had lost their loved ones this past year. To be with them, to feel with them, to share memories, that special time, will be with me forever. At times words were not spoken, just a squeeze of a hand or a gentle hug. We took my some of my dad's treasured items to display, his Senior Boots, Aggie Ring, photographs, a newspaper article with a photograph that was in the Aggie Times that Dad had saved when he was in Shanghai. He and fellow Aggie soldiers mustered at a former German Chapel in 1946.  We displayed the football ticket stubs for games that dad attended against UT, Rice and Baylor that he kept! We displayed the suitcase that my dad took to College Station when he was sent to college. My grandfather took him to the bus station, when his father gave him the bus ticket, Dad asked, "Where is College Station?" His father told him, " it's where Texas A&M is and that is where you are going." Dad was surprised that he was not going to North Texas State University in Denton, Texas! His plan was to be near Texas Women's University in Denton!  So off he went to College Station. It all turned out for the best, My Dad was so very proud of being a Mighty Texas Aggie and cherished his time there. Oh, he had so many great stories and when he told them he would just light up! Now, my dad went to Law School at the University of Texas in Austin, that other school, but in his heart, he was always an Aggie!

Reflections Display

An afternoon BBQ was held on campus that afternoon for those that wanted to attend and continue to visit with new friends.

Aggie Muster Ceremony began that evening at 7 PM. The Prelude, by the Aggie Singing Cadets, Women's Chorus, Century Singers and Reveliers was incredible. Following was the Presentation of Colors, by the the oldest Honor Guard and Drill Team of it's kind in the State of Texas, the Ross Volunteers. They are the Honor Guard for the Governor of the State of Texas.

 

Ross Volunteers

The National Anthem and was then played by the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band.  

The Roll Call for the Absent is a cherished part of Aggie Muster . It's a celebration of a life lived and the legacy left. Family members answer a simple "Here" when their loved one's name is called and a candle it lit by a family member. My nephew Frank Randall Nye, III, a freshman at A&M lit the candle. What an emotional and memorable time for our family.

The evening was full of many emotions, laughter, whoops,  memories, tears and solemn silence. I was left speechless at the power of the ceremony. I will never forget the sight of the flickering candles dancing in the dark. I will never forget the sound of the gunshots echoing in the arena. I will never forget the sound, the click of the boots, the Ross Volunteer's steps, Silver Taps, the fire of three rifle volleys. The reverence, the silence...

Then, the Singing Cadets sang "Auld Lang Syne"  followed by the benediction. 

Unforgettable.

 

"Softly call the Muster, 

Let comrade answer, “Here!”


Frank Randall Nye, Jr.   Class of '44

HERE!

The Last Corps Trip

It was Judgment Day in Aggieland

And tenseness filled the air;

All knew there was a trip at hand,

But not a soul knew where.

Assembled on the drill field

Was the world-renowned Twelfth Man,

The entire fighting Aggie team

And the famous Aggie Band.

And out in front with Royal Guard

The reviewing party stood;

St. Peter and his angel staff

Were choosing bad from good.

First he surveyed the Aggie team

And in terms of an angel swore,

“By Jove, I do believe I’ve seen

This gallant group before.

I’ve seen them play since way back when,

And they’ve always had the grit;

I’ve seen ‘em lose and I’ve seen ‘em win,

But I’ve never seen ‘em quit.

No need for us to tarry here

Deciding upon their fates;

Tis plain as the halo on my head

That they’ve opened Heaven’s gates.”

And when the Twelfth Man heard this,

They let out a mighty yell

That echoed clear to Heaven

and shook the gates of Hell.

“And what group is this upon the side,”

St. Peter asked his aide,

“That swelled as if to burst with pride

When we our judgment made?”

“Why, sir, that’s the Cadet Corps

That’s known both far and wide

For backing up their fighting team

Whether they won, lost or tied.”

“Well, then,” said St. Peter,

“It’s very plain to me

That within the realms of Heaven

They should spend eternity.

And have the Texas Aggie Band

At once commence to play

For their fates too we must decide

Upon this crucial day.”

And the drum major so hearing

Slowly raised his hand

And said, “Boys, let’s play The Spirit

For the last time in Aggieland.”

And the band poured forth the anthem

In notes both bright and clear

And ten thousand Aggie voices

Sang the song they hold so dear.

And when the band had finished,

St. Peter wiped his eyes

And said, “It’s not so hard to see

They’re meant for Paradise.”

And the colonel of the Cadet Corps said

As he stiffly took his stand,

“It’s just another Corps Trip, boys,

We’ll march in behind the band.” 

-Philo H. DuVal