Was anyone else offended by the lack of silence and respect at this mornings gathering at the Bonfire Memorial? I saw one of the families leaving citing "to much drama". Is it just me or do others feel the same way?

drama? what happened?

Four guys who obviously have invested their heart and soul into student bonfire (which I commend them for) started yelling "NEVER FORGET" and then it went on for another 30 minutes about how they carry on their sacrifice, etc. Not to mention they were falling to their knees, bawling, and grasping at the earth.

Bad bull.

That's not the place for theatrics.

Agreed.

They did seem to go way overboard and rambled on for half an hour or more. That definately wasn't the time or place for it and I am embarassed if some of the families left early because of them.

quote:

---

sacrifice

---

Rhetoric like that is scary.

No one gave themselves up as a sacrifice that night.

Agree with '87. That wasn't appropriate. But we will Always Remember.

I'm confused. I wasn't able to make it because I came down with some pretty rough sickness. What exactly happened?

I was a bit put off by the sacrafice speech, but I'm glad there was still a big turn out.

I was in the back and couldn't see exactly what was happening or who was speaking, so I can't give you the play by play, but after 15 minutes or so someone started shouting a speech about how 12 people sacraficed themselves for bonfire

[This message has been edited by robertf03 (edited 11/18/2007 4:24p).]

The gathering* started off like all the ones in the past, people circled around the center pole marker and say the Lord's prayer, sing Amazing Grace, the Spirit of Aggieland, and the 12th Man. Then the list of names of the fallen were read, and responded with "here", followed by a moment of silence. Nothing out of the ordinary, very moving, very powerful. Meanwhile, four guys are kneeling, and crying in the center of the group. Still nothing wrong. Then, one of the guys shouts at the top of his lungs "NEVER FORGET THEM!" I though to myself "a little uncalled for, but fine". But then the rebuttal from the other guys, and what appeared to be a competition of who could say something that made them appear more affected by the tragedy than the others. It went on for about 5 minutes, when one of the fallen Aggies' fathers went over to them and said thank you and an obvious gesture of "stop you are getting annoying". The yelling of mournful sorrow went on for another 15 minutes. By that time the families had left, and I followed. I do not know what happened after I left. I do know that 3 of the 4 were in high school in 1999, but that is neither here nor there.


*I say gathering because it is not an official tribute or ceremony (if it were official it would loose its meaning)

I agree the turnout was amazing. It further proves the Aggie Spirit is alive and well.

Glad there was a good turnout. With the weather being so bad, I was afraid there would be a very small turnout. Both my sons went and said they got soaked, but didn't mention the theatrics y'all are talking about. It was a first 2:42 for both of them, and they may not have known it was something that shouldn't have happened.

[This message has been edited by txtimetraveler (edited 11/18/2007 11:27p).]

quote:

---

If they are the off-campus bonfire leadership,

---

Please don't point blame if you don't know...

...speculation and rumors are bad things.

I cant speak with authority but I highly doubt SB leadership would pull a publicity stunt like that.

The gathering is a time of remembrance and not a time for propaganda.

At least some of the pots were being worn by former SB leadership.

I haven't been out there for one of the anniversary memorials, but do people wear their pots from previous bonfires?

This whole forum confuses and saddens me.

Wouldn't be too surprised if it were true that those in question were involved.

I said almost the exact words MKF just typed to my buddy as we left the Memorial.

I was a few rows back in the crowd and do not know who was doing the yelling either.

I also saw and smelt a few examples of drunken behavior in the crowd at various times and that is just a shame. Somewhere along the way, the lesson of "time and place" has been lost of quite a few people.

Scott Coker '92

quote:

---

At least some of the pots were being worn by former SB leadership.

---

There are only a handful of "deads" that would hollywood by wearing their leadership pots outside Student Bonfire. Wearing a leadership pot to a non-Student Bonfire event is highly discouraged and, although an incident hasn't happened yet that I'm aware of...should and hopefully will be severely repremanded.

If you have a concern of this happening, send the info you have to info@studentbonfire.com and it'll get where it needs to go...

[This message has been edited by TexasRebel (edited 11/18/2007 10:58p).]

I miss Bonfire in a lot of ways, but let me say to any of you current students, please don't romanticize the tragedy of 12 Aggies' deaths.

Bonfire was not and will never be worth dying for.

I was in the back-ish so I couldn't see at all and couldn't hear very well... but when the yelling started i thought it was a little over-dramatic... but I assumed it was a family member, so i was willing to overlook it. But if it wasn't family then it was definately inappropriate.

redd38 I too assumed it was a family member and couldn't hear very well and didn't think much of it at the time other than it was a very poor choice of words and an ill prepared ramble.

If it turns out that this was just some generic person trying to be a victim or trying to take control of this gathering for either their own gain or an organizations gain then this sickens me.

In my view this is to support the families of those who died, a time for personal reflection, to remember the good times that Aggie Bonfire generated, to pass down the memories of Bonfire to the post Bonfire classes, and a time to catch up with old friends.

I wasn't in clear view of the inner circle and the whole thing, but basically feel the same as everyone else on here. I thought it was someone who knew one of the 12 or maybe one of the injured even, but if not, I find their actions ill-received at best (which is certanly excusable if it's a grieving family member or friend) and despicable if for the worst. Maybe someone can correct me, but it seemed from my vantage point that the only ones who spoke at all were those who walked in exactly at 2:42 (before the families request people follow, as has been "protocol" in the recent years). That said, if you got the gumption to walk in at that point and act like that without a direct affliation to the twelve, for self serving reasons, it is certainly morally reprehensible.


On a side note, I have brought and held my pot (just a dorm one) to my chest at every memorial so far. I just have always felt it appropriate for some reason, and by no means have ever meant any disrespect.

Lots of speculations here - I wasn't there and can't comment on exactly what happened, but unless someone knows exactly who it was, speculating who it might have been is really inappropriate. It could have been family, friends, injured or whoever. Trying to guess and judging without knowing is making it look way worse than it may have been. Can we let it go until we know for sure?

i'm glad my friends and I were not the only ones with this reaction...this was my first bonfire remembrance to attend and it moved me to tears, up until those 4 started shouting

quote:

---

I was in the back-ish so I couldn't see at all and couldn't hear very well... but when the yelling started i thought it was a little over-dramatic... but I assumed it was a family member, so i was willing to overlook it. But if it wasn't family then it was definately inappropriate.

---

I felt the same way. I wondered if it was family, but I couldn't believe that it would be, since the families have never spoken like that in previous years.

The yelling about broher hood and sisterhood and Aggie ideals just felt horribly out of place. This year felt distinctly different than previous years.

it was def not an attempt to promote SB... but while they had good intentions, it was in very poor taste and just seemed like somebody rambling on and ruining the moment. although i do think one of them worked on the 99 bonfire

The premise of having a "gathering" on this night should be humbling. You should keep quiet and have a rememberence. I miss all of them and I was there when it fell.

If a family member of one the perished left because of the "theatrics" that occured, this infuriates me.

If this is a "New Boy" stunt this should be taken care of in the appropriate way.

What's the appropriate way? What if it was one of your friends? What if it was somebody from SB?

sox, if i were you, i wouldn't speak on things you don't understand. the memorial activities were proper, although at times misguided. yes, some of the things said might have sounded redundant and pointless to some....however, to those who know what duty, honor, and sacrifice mean, your opinion means little more than a half-thought battalion mail call. also, i don't believe i have ever heard hartfelt thanks and tear-filled hugs regarded as 'please shut up and move on'. if people who want to bury memories and tradition were offended by such actions at the memorial, they can get over themselves. sorry to sound so callous, but i have very little to say about those who refuse to stop mourning. yes, we miss them...yes, it was a tragedy....don't insult intelligence by manufacturing the same cookie-cutter memorial every year for them. show some insight, thought, and care for the deceased....they deserve better than a funeral every single year. why not honor their passion? why not continue to build upon their example? i challenge anyone....try to stop us. i dare you. we will never stop honoring, we will never stop celebrating, and we will never stop building. try it....there is so much pride and tradition pumping through the veins of the Aggie family that has yet to be realized by anyone...the quickest way to get results out of an Aggie is to tell them it can't be done. before any of you judge, attempt to experience the awesome power of the Aggie Spirit. your life will be changed, i promise.

the real shame is on the Traditions Council....why are you trying to commercialize and make face on a tradition that your funding body wants no part of anymore? leave it alone....let people remember how they wish. don't start slapping "neat" or "catchy" promotional ideas on something that involves hallowed ground.