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Richard L. Riess, Ph D.
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Dr. Art Caylor
Dr. William R. Kiser
Dr. Walter J. Linder
Dr. Richard A. Smith
Dr. Kathy A. Stienstra
Dr. Robert Wiprud
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Dr. Frank R. Arko
Dr. Dirk L. Boysen
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Dr. Valerie Chatham
Dr. Alton Graham
Dr. David Hackethom
Dr. Michael R. Schlabach
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Dr. James R. Meyer
Dr. William L. Rayburn
Dr. Charles W. Sanders
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Dr. Walter J. Linder
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Dr. Mark R. Coffman
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Dr. Robert F. Hines
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Dr. Michael J. Miller
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Dr. Dayne M. Foster
Dr. Mark Sicilio
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Dr. William M. Cocke, Jr.
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Dr. Steven Kirk Strawn
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Dr. Jack L. Bodden
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Dr. Luis Canales
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Dr. Michael R. Hermans
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Sally Scaggs, RD
Call 268-3322 For Appointment
R1
Rudolf ISurcyev will dance
Page 2D/The Battalion/Monday, August 29, 1988
A
Silver Taps provides fina
farewell to fellow Aggies
By Sam B. Myers
Reporter
Lights begin to go out around the
A&M campus. The silence is broken
by thousands of footsteps all headed
towards the same building for the
same purpose. Aggies gather outside
the darkened Academic Building.
The mass of people begin to crowd
around the statue of Lawrence Sulli
van Ross to honor a fellow Aggie
who has died. The majority of the
crowd never met the person they are
there to honor.
It is 10:30 p.m. and the Ross Vol
unteers, dressed in their distinctive
white uniforms, begin their slow,
steady march to the center of the
crowd. Those gathered remain si
lent; nothing is heard except the
footsteps of the RVs.
The RVs come to a stop and, di
vided into three groups of seven,
they begin their 21-gun salute.
“First order . . . ready . . . aim . . .
fire!”
Birds flutter away as the blast re
verberates across campus.
Once the 2 Tgun salute is no more
than an echo in the mind, three
buglers from the Aggie Band begin
to play “Silver Taps.” The song is
played three times — to the north,
east and west.
With the last notes of “Silver
Taps” still ringing across campus,
those in attendance begin to leave in
silence.
The ceremony of Silver Taps is
finished — a final farewell has been
given to students who have lost their
lives during the previous month.
It is believed that the first Silver
Taps, one of the oldest of Aggie tra
ditions, was held in 1898 for Law
rence Sullivan Ross. Ross was gover
nor of Texas from 1886 to 1890 and
president of Texas A&M from 1891
to 1898.
Since then Silver Taps has
changed, but the reason for the cere
mony remains the same.
The first Silver Taps ceremonies
were held in front of Old Main,
which stood where the Academic
Building stands. Silver Taps was
later moved to Goodwin Hall. The
ceremony was moved to its current
site in 1918.
The flag in front of the Academic
Building was first flown at half-mast
on the day of Silver Taps during the
1920s. All flags on campus now fly at
half mast for Silver Taps and Aggie
Muster.
The song “Silver Taps,” a special
arrangement of Taps, was written by
Col. Richard J. Dunn in the 1930s.
Chimes were rung before the cer
emony from 1955 until 1973. After
Quarters is over. I should be in l
but there’s something I have to
you both first. I’m sitting here atm
desk with tears in my eyes and tl
ing more about life itself thanlctj
have before.
“I’m not crying because of win
I’m going through — but rather!*
cause I’ve experienced tonightwlj
A&M is all about. Mother an
we’re one big family here and no*
know what it means to be an
Tonight was Silver Taps.
I'm not crying because of
what I’m going through
— but rather because I’ve
experienced tonight what
A&M is all about. Mother
and Dad, we’re one big
family here and now I
know what it means to be
an Aggie. Tonight was Sil
ver Taps.”
— Don Coward in 1968
“In case you don’t knowwhattlu
is, I’m going to tell you and you*
got to listen. Any time a studenditii
loses his life — no matter how-*
an assigned date soon afterwards
have what is called Silver Taps,
eryone gathers in front oftheAi
demic Building, in front of whicli
a flag pole on which Silver Taps
tices are posted.
Spit
fare a
five ir
special
Mar
preser
traditi
forces
dent k
Hea
said tl
studer
as a m
shoulc
The
didn’t
with tl
tice in
play a
Kea
the renovation of the Memorial Stu
dent Center in 1975, chimes were
used again.
Silver Taps is held the first Tues
day of each month, if a student or
graduate student has died since the
previous ceremony. September’s Sil
ver Taps is the only exception — it is
held on the second Tuesday.
Notices of the ceremony are
posted at locations around the cam
pus and at the base of the flag pole
in front of the Academic Building.
In October 1968, a freshman
wrote this letter to his parents after
attending Silver Taps.
“Dear Mom and Dad,
“Right now it’s 11:00 and Call to
“No one says a word from
time we leave the dorms until ill
next morning. All is quiet and allth
lights on campus are turned ol
Even lights on the Coke machine
are covered.
“At 10:30, when everyone isi
place in front of the Acadeiti
Building, a firing team fires a 21
gun salute in honor of those 4
died. Then buglers play Silver Tap
and it’s over.
“Tonight I experienced oneofth
most solemn feelings Tveeverb
and feel so good inside. Mom, Dai
— it was just like God Himself»:
there with us. I guess you’re wishin
I would grow up and quit camin
on like this over Silver Taps—but
was so, I can’t even tell you ho»
was, there’s nothing else like it.
“Be careful and I love you laoth
“DC.”
Three weeks after Don Cowat
wrote this letter Silver Taps washd
again. This time the ceremony w
held for Coward and two of
friends who were killed in an auto
mobile accident.
Aggie ring represents effort;
only seniors eligible to order
just a few
places in
America
this year.
One of
them is
right
here.
Rudolf Mureyev is one of the greatest, and certainly most
famous ballet dancers of all time. Since his world-rocking 'leap
to freedom” from the Soviet Union in 1961, he has electrified
the world of dance. He has danced with all the world's great
companies, including the Paris Opera Ballet, which he now
directs.
MSC OPAS 16 will present Rudolf Hureyev and Friends, the
Paris Opera Ballet, as just one of the seven great performances
on this season's Music Series. In addition to his performance
here, he will host an informal reception after the MSC OPAS
performance.
Only OPAS 16 season ticket holders will be guaranteed tickets
to this sure sell-out. Don't wait for single tickets and miss this
rare opportunity. OPAS 16 season tickets are now on sale for
the Music Series, and for the Theater Series, which will bring
six hit Broadway performances including My One and Only' and
A View From The Bridge'. Order yours today.
Tickets on sale at the MSC Box Office, Rudder Center,
Credit card order by phone 845-1234.
This season we bring you the world.
MSC Opera and Performing Arts Society • Memorial Student Center of Texas A6tM University
Call Battalion Classified 845-2611 ]
By Anita Arnold
Reporter
The Aggie ring, a symbol of hard
work, has been one of Texas A&M’s
traditions for almost 100 years.
The oldest known Aggie ring be
longed to the Class of 1889 and fea
tured the letters AMC intertwined
on the crest. But in 1894, E.C. Jonas
designed a ring that included the
current symbols.
“The design of the Aggie ring is as
deep in symbolism as it is in tradi
tion,” Class Ring Director Carolyn
Swanzy said.
Found on the top of the ring is a
shield that symbolizes protection of
the alma mater’s reputation. The 13
stripes in the shield signify the 13
original states and stand for the pa
triotism of graduates and under
graduates of A&M.
The shield contains five stars that
symbolize the phases of student de
velopment including the mind,
body, spirit, emotions and integrity.
Finally, the eagle is a symbol of agil
ity, power and the ability to reach
great heights and ambitions.
The State Seal of Texas is found
on one side of the Aggie ring. The
five-pointed star has a wreath of
olive leaves around it which stands
for achievement and a desire for
peace. Live-oak leaves make up half
of the wreath and symbolize the
strength to fight.
The leaves are joined at the bot
tom by a circled ribbon to show the
need of joining the two traits to ac
complish one’s ambition to serve.
The other side has an ancient can
non, saber and rifle that stand for
the men of Texas who fought for the
land and defended homesteads. The
saber is a symbol for valor and confi
dence, and the rifle and cannon rep
resent preparedness and defense.
The crossed flags of the United
States and Texas recognize the dual
allegiance to the nation and state.
Aggies had a chance to show this
allegiance with the start of World
1935 Aggie Ring
War II. Because so many cadets left
for the war, the number of rings or
dered dropped from 1,937 in 1943
to 639 and stayed at that level until
the war ended in H)45. The order
then jumped to 1,131 and has in
creased consistently with the growth
and progress of A&M. V
In 1963, when the Agricultural
and Mechanical College of Texas
changed its name to Texas A&M
University, J.B. Sterns, Class of ’99,
started a permanent collection of
rings to represent every class from
the A&M College of Texas. Sterns
collected rings for each class from
1899 to 1964. The Memorial Ring
Collection will eventually include
rings through the 21st century and
are kept in the Clayton Williams
Alumni Center.
Prior to 1933, several manufac
turers were making and distributing
the ring and anyone could order
one. The Senior Ring Committee
was formed to standardize the de
sign of the ring and control its distri
bution. This control helps to pre
serve the tradition and integrity of
the Aggie ring.
The L.G. Balfour Co. has pro
duced the Aggie ring since 1948,
and it can only be ordered through
the Ring Office located in the
alumni center.
“Before a student can place an or
der for a ring, a check form must be
Filled out so the Ring Office can
make sure the student meets the re
quirements,” Swanzy said.
To qualify for a senior ring, a stu
dent must have completed 95 houi!
have a 2.0 cumulative grade-pci
average and be in good standiii
with the University.
Transfer students must have!
hours completed at A&M along»i
the other requirements.
“When a student places anordi
the hours must be completed andi
record except for in Novemberai)
April,” Swanzy said. “During tlifl
months students are allowed
make prepayments; however, the
ders are not processed until
are posted for the semester.”
The rings are custom-made it
Massachusetts factory and are
produced until the orders arrive,d
said.
“The orders take two to
months to fill depending on i
number of rings ordered,” Swa®
said. “And the price of the tin
fluctuate according to gold prices
Traditionally, the A&M undi
graduate wears his ring with t
class number toward him. At Ri
Dance in the spring, the ring
turned so that it no longer facestl
Aggie, but faces the world.
While the ring design is filled«i
symbolism and tradition from ye)
gone by, another tradition is quid
finding its way into the hearts oM
gies. Many seniors are nowdroppi
their rings into the bottom of
pitcher of beer as an initiation!
the ring. According to followers
this new tradition, the ring can»
be removed until the beer is co
sumed by the owner of the ring. :
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Animal World 4D
Brazos Valley Safety Agency 5D
Copeland Floors 10D
Diet Center 11D
Douglas Jewelery 5D
Engineering Office Supply 10D
Farmers Market 3D
First Baptist Church 4D
Gadzooks 5D
Grace Bible Church 5D
Grapevine 5D
Joses/Zarapes 10D
Keysets 10D
Loupot’s , ID
OB/GY
On the Double
OPAS
Professional Computing
Schroeppel
Scott & White
Student Affairs
Superior Auto
Swensons
Texas A&M Bookstore
Twin City Bargain Furniture
Valley Cyclery
Wesley Foundation
Whataburger
Yesterdays
,.4D
,..5D
...2D
.11D
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