11 years ago... We Will Never Forget..

Bonfire.  What began as a trash heap in 1909 grew into a massive wedding cake design, which at its tallest stood 109 feet, 10 inches. Bonfire symbolized A&M’s burning desire to beat the hell out of t.u. It was a task of a monstrous size instituted and executed almost entirely by students over the course of a near-century.  It brought to together the Corps of Cadets, non-regs, residential halls, men, and women to build this monument to Aggie dedication and fervor. Bonfire became emblematic of Aggieland and held a meaning greater than just the desire to win a football game. It symbolized the Aggie spirit and a dedication and drive for building something greater than ourselves.  

Those who saw it burn on campus have said there was nothing like it. The heat and flame was so much that it even burned their shadows into the ground. Those who built it can attest to the sheer amount of strength and manpower it took to construct a project of that size and magnitude. It was absolutely incredible.  This year marks the 11 year anniversary since the collapse.  On November 18, 1999 at 2:42 AM, the history of the Aggie Bonfire changed forever. The stack collapsed and taking with it the lives of 12 Aggies. It stunned the campus, the state of Texas, and the entire nation. No one ever considered that the stack might ever fall and if it did, that it would take the lives of those who put their blood, sweat, and tears into it.

 

The Aggie Community did not miss the significance of the loss of exactly 12 Aggies. The number 12 is particular important to Texas A&M as a referral to the 12^th Man. We all know the story of E. King Gill and his willingness to stand at the ready for when his team needed him.  His sportsmanship and spirit of giving is carried on by all Aggies at football games, who stand at the ready in case our team might need us. The 12^th man is what Aggieland stands for. Which leads me to talk about Timothy Doran Kerlee, Jr. 

Tim Kerlee was on the stack when it fell the night of the 18^th. When the stack fell, Tim’s pelvis was crushed, his arm was broken, and there was massive damage to his internal organs.  

But instead of allowing emergency workers and the rescue team to remove him from the stack, Tim told them that he had a better vantage point for seeing other injured students. The rescuers were directed to five other wounded students before Tim allowed them to remove him from the stack. He went into emergency surgery, and when they opened him up they found his organs so badly damaged that they couldn't identify much of what they saw. They closed him up, wrapped him in a sheet to hold him together, and placed on life support. He lived long enough to see and speak to his parents, who flew in from Tennessee. He was aware that he was dying and asked to be removed from life support. When his parents asked him why he wanted to, he asked them why he should fight for a few more days of life when he could be in Heaven with Jesus right now. Tim Kerlee was the 12^th and final Aggie to be taken by the Bonfire tragedy. He was a hero in every way and I am immensely proud of the fact that I share the same school as this young man who epitomized selfless service and Aggie values right down to his last breath.  I feel sorry that I never had a chance to know Tim Kerlee, but I praise God for kids like him. If you had to pick a twelfth man you couldn't do much better.  Eagle Scout Tim Kerlee was posthumously granted Boy Scout’s highest award, the MEDAL OF MERIT, for his heroic actions.

My friend, old co-worker, and an Aggie on campus when Bonfire collapsed had a chance encounter with Tim Kerlee's parents.  They were on the same flight as her when she was leaving College Station to go home for Thanksgiving.  She remembers this couple with a box going through security.. and them sitting in front of her on the plane.  She remembers the mother asking the dad to pull the box down from the over head compartment because she wanted to look through it.  And the thing that stood out to her was that these parents weren't mad; weren't angry; they were almost at peace.  Personally, seeing how their son was raised, I'd like to think these were Christians who knew God had a plan regardless of whether they could understand it or not..

Then there's the 13th Man... Never heard of him?

John Comstock was the last victim of the collapse to be carried alive from the stack. The other 26 students injured that night at Bonfire had been removed, but Comstock was in a position of such risk that many pieces of debris needed to be extracted before rescue crews could slide him out.  Comstock nearly died in surgery three times. His fate seemed so certain that Texas A&M prepared a news release — dated Nov. 29, 1999, on letterhead — announcing his death.

Comstock framed it.   He thus became a different person after Bonfire 1999.  At tradition-deep Texas A&M, students celebrate a spirit known as the 12th Man.  Twelve students died in the collapse. Comstock was No. 13. The news release proves it. He had it tattooed on his shoulder. The Thirteenth Man.

There was a story, last year about John going through the 10 year anniversary memorabilia..  As he is in his wheelchair rolling through he hears someone say hello.  It was Darrin Allen, the firefighter who found Comstock, held his hand, and staying with him through the night.  He remembers some one grabbing his arm.  And he recalls the firefighter asked Comstock every few minutes how he was doing.  Comstock never lost consciousness. The firefighter asked: Can you make it another hour?  Finally, Comstock said he replied: "Why don't you tell me how long I need to make it, and that's what I'll do." 

This letter epitomizes why I respect many Longhorns for the support shown after the collapse.  As Aggies we say "From the inside looking out you can't describe it; from the outside looking in, you can't understand it."   But on that day, on November 18, 1999 I think the whole state of Texas had an idea what it meant to be an Aggie...

Bonfire Letter
by Eric Opiela, UT Student Body Vice President

 

I had the great privilege of attending the memorial service at A&M tonight and was deeply moved by the events I experienced. The A&M student body is truly one of the great treasures of our State.

 

As part of the UT delegation, we sat on the floor of Reed Arena, and immediately following the end of the service, I heard this rustling sound behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw the sight of close to 20,000 students spontaneously putting their arms on their neighbor’s shoulders, forming a great circle around the arena.

 

The mass stood there in a pin-drop silence for close to five minutes, then, from somewhere, someone began to hum quietly the hymn "Amazing Grace". Within seconds, the whole arena was singing. I tried too—I choked, I cried.

 

This event brought me to tears. It was one if not the defining moment of my college career. I learned something tonight. For all us Longhorns discount A&M in our neverending rivalry, we need to realize one thing. Aggieland is a special place, with special people. It is infinitely better equipped than us at dealing with a tragedy such as this for one simple reason. It is a family. It is a family that cares for its own, a family that reaches out, a family that is unified in the face of adversity; a family that moved this Longhorn to tears. My heart, my prayers; and the heart of the UT student body go out tonight to Aggies and their family and friends as they, recover, from this great loss. Texas A&M, The Eyes of Texas are Upon You—and they look with sincere sympathy upon a family that has been through so much  tragedy this semester.

I wanted to share the poem called “The Last Corps Trip.” Traditionally read before the lighting of Bonfire, it now adorns the memorial to those who lost their lives in the 1999 collapse. It is emblematic of Aggieland and for me personally, it reminds me of all the things I love about this place.

THE LAST CORPS TRIP

By P.H. DuVal, Jr., Class of 1951

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."