Softly Call the Muster... Let Comrade answer "here"

So I know I've gotten a little off track in my blogging.  It's thanks to my busy schedule and a new email pen pal, but this is one Aggie story I can't miss... Muster:  One of the GREATEST traditions at Texas A&M.

 What Reed Arena will look like tomorrow

Muster- also called muster roll (formerly) a list of persons to come together; collect; assemble; gather.

One hundred years before I was ever born, Aggies gathered together on June 26,1883 to live over again their college days, the victories and defeats won and lost upon the drill field and in the classroom. By April 21, 1903, this annual gathering evolved into a celebration of Texas' Independence on San Jacinto Day.  It was not until 1922, however, that April 21 became the official day of events for all Aggies, thus, the annual tradition of Muster was born. The March 1923 Texas Aggie urged, 'If there is an A&M man in one-hundred miles of you, you are expected to get together, eat a little, and live over the days you spent at the A&M College of Texas.'

Muster is celebrated in more than four-hundred places world wide, with the largest ceremony on the Texas A&M campus in College Station. The ceremony brings together more Aggies, worldwide, on one occasion than any other event.   Famously, while under seige, 25 Aggies Mustered in Corregidor during World War II.  I missed the 50th reunion, but it was the most tearful, longest standing ovation. The last survivor died in 2001. His name was called at Muster in 2002.

We come together and talk about our college days, eat, and then have a formal ceremony where we answer "here" to roll call of names of Aggies that have passed away in the past year. It is a very solemn occasion, yet my favorite of all A&M traditions. I am moved each and every year we gather together with Aggies that we have never met to honor this tradition. It is often the only time throughout the year that A&M Clubs worldwide meet.   Muster is a full day of barbecues and special events, but it's also a time to remember the Aggies who are not able to join with their old classmates.  At Roll Call, they light a candle for every Aggie who died that year in the region where that Muster was held. The Muster committee makes sure that no matter what, when an Aggie has died that year, another Aggie will answer "Here" for him or her at Roll Call.  It's the most common part of the ceremony and the most emotional. 

My freshman year, my boyfriend who had passed away, his name was called.  The girl who died right in front of my cousin was called out that year too... When friends' names are called, it hits you.

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When I was in TV, what made me a "bad reporter" is I got personally connected to my stories, i.e. the death of a young man named Christopher O'Leary.  On a cool Sunday afternoon, October 26, 2008, one of my station's photographers who was not working drove passed an accident scene and decided to grab his camera and start rolling.  (I promise this story ties to Muster).  It turns out that Chris and his dad, Tom were taking a motorcycle safety class that day.  Because it was cooler that morning they rode in a truck to the first part, and during the lunch break, they went home to grab their motorcycles..  Chris didn't know how to get back to the motorcycle safety school so he asked his dad to lead- although it was normal for Chris to lead so his dad could watch him.  Tom pulled up to the light at Old Henderson highway and Loop 323, when the green arrow came up signaling he could turn left Tom recounted that he looked left, right, then left again before turning.. Chris followed.  As soon as Tom had turned he heard a crash, he looked over his shoulder to see his 20 year old son's body being drug across the pavement by an old model suburban.. A witness at the scene told my photog, ""She had hit the dude right here in the back and kept going, and stopped way down here while he was still under the car."  

Chris' body was drug 50 feet before the driver, Angela Daniels ever realized he was under there.  She told police that arrived on scene that she was diabetic and needed her medication but was not able to think clearly because of her lack of insulin.. Although Daniels is diabetic, it turns out she was two times over the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration and had methamphetamines in her system.  Chris fought for his life, but died the next day.. Daniels was charged with intoxication manslaughter, but was no where to be found.  Authorities found Daniels hiding in an abandoned house of HWY 155, about 20 minutes from where the accident happened..

I sat in the courtroom during the punishment phase of Daniel's trial.  If I remember correctly it was a Wednesday, April 15, 2009- one week before Aggie Muster.  You see Christopher O'Leary is an Aggie.  He graduated from Whitehouse High School (small town near Tyler) with honors and was attending Texas A & M University, Mechanical Engineering Dept.  Chris had worked for everything he had, his first car, his motorcycle, ALWAYS willing to work and pay for what he wanted.  Chris would have been a benefit to society.  Daniels?  She had been in and out of jail since she was 19; had 5 prior DWI convictions; her license was not even valid the day she was driving and hit Chris; she spent a year in the state penitentiary; been arrested for drug use, and prostitution; and she was 38 years old when she hit Chris.  Rather than turn herself in she ran and was found at her drug dealer's home high on meth.  

The Assistant DA, Joe Murphy, who was prosecuting the case is also an Aggie.  The courtroom was filled with Aggies wearing white shirts and jeans (Chris' favorite outfit).  And Murphy took the time to pull up the Aggie Muster list.  Thomas Christopher O'Leary was the second name called at Aggie Muster that year.  Murphy said, "next Tuesday his name will be called out loud among thousands of people, and someone in the crowd, a friend or family member will answer 'here' because he is not there to do it himself."    When that was said in the courtroom I dropped my pen and cried; probably about as much as I cried at the Muster when his name was called..

Between him being an Aggie, and all the friends I lost to drunk drivers, I couldn't help it.  

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There's another story,  it's about two Aggies who were fighting in the trenches and they were pulling back under heavy fire. One Aggie got hit and fell, but the other made it to a safe place. When he realized his friend was back on the battlefield, he went for him, against his commander's orders. The tide of the battle turned, and the commander found both Aggies together. The first had died, and the one who went back for him was mortally wounded. The commander yelled at him and said what a foolish mistake it was. Why? Why had he ignored his orders and tried to save his friend when he knew he might die, too? Because, the Aggie said, he'd have done it for me.

So, as cheesy as it sounds, and whether that's true or not, Aggies do gather for traditions like this because they know that other Aggies would do it -- will do it -- for them.  I get teared up just thinking of the day when my time comes..  Tomorrow, I will be even more proud to call myself an Aggie and to answer "here" for all of those who could not be here with us. One day someone will answer "here" for me.

Century-old roots provide the basis of Muster as Aggies know it today. It has changed, yet the Spirit in which it was established remains the same. Since the beginning, every Aggie has lived and become a part of the Aggie Spirit. What is felt today is not just the love of a fellow Aggie, it is the spirit of hundreds of thousands of Aggies who have gone before. Muster is how that Spirit is remembered and will continue to unite Texas A&M and the Aggie family. A&M may change, but the Spirit never will.  

In many lands and climes this April day Proud sons of Texas A&M unite. Our loyalty to country, school, we pray, and seal our pact with bond of common might.

We live again those happy days of yore on campus, field, in classroom, dorm, at drill Fond memory brings a sigh -- but nothing more; Now we are men and life’s a greater thrill,

On Corregidor    *    years ago today A band of gallant Aggies, led by Moore, Held simple rites which led to us doth all to say: The spirit shall prevail through cannon roar.

Before we part and go upon our way, We pause to honor those we knew so well; The old familiar faces we miss so much today Left cherished recollections that time cannot dispel.

Softly call the Muster, Let comrade answer, “Here!” Their spirits hover ‘round us As if to bring us cheer!

Mark them ‘present’ in our hearts. We’ll meet some other day There is no death, but life etern For our old friends such as they!

by Dr. John Ashton ‘06

* The third stanza is original to the poem and had been deleted over the years. It was intended that each year, the number of years since Corregidor would be inserted. 

 21 Gun Salute for the fallen Aggies