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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 27, 1990)
'age 5E The Battalion Monday, August 27,1990 ternal Flame represents undying spirit ByTED ALBRACHT Special to the Battalion The plaque on the Eternal Flame says it sym- olizes the undying spirit all Aggies have for Texas A&M. At the north end of Kyle Field next to the ktatue of the 12th Man and the graves of A&M’s Former mascots, the Eternal Flame burns in a pronze bowl on top of a black granite pyramid which sits in a star-shaped pool with 12 sides. The pool’s 12 sides represent the tradition of khe Twelfth Man and is lined with maroon-and- white tiles. Four jets spray a mist from the pool bntothe sides of the pyramid. The flame was a gift from the Class of ’83, Iwhich hoped the flame would be used to light torches for bonfire and yell practice and candles at Muster. Though Aggies’ spirit for A&M might be un dying, the flame has not proved to be eternal and has had problems since its installment. The monument was designed by Dan Kardell and Ian Seaton, both Class of ’83, and former student Jim Vandenberg. The flame was completed almost five months behind schedule and cost $17,000. A Class of’83 agent said University officials as sumed full responsibility for keeping the flame lit, but the first year’s cost was too extensive, and the flame was extinguished. A Sept. 27, 1987, issue of The Battalion re ported the flame’s repair costs to be between $3,000 and $4,000. Maintaining the flame would cost about $500 per year. The Eternal Flame often flickered and died and was worked on almost continuously until Lone Star Gas reworked the gas system in 1988 and it was relit. An endowment fund was created by the Class of ’83 and interest from this fund pays the flame’s gas bill. Joe Estill, associate director of utilities, said al though the flame has been rebuilt and improved several times it still dies occasionally because of weather and vandalism. “We (at the physical plant) do routine mainte nance and try to keep it lit,” Estill said. Silver Taps recognizes deceased with ceremony By VANNESSA STEWART Special to the Battalion There is a mystic stillness in the night. It is dark and the lights around Texas A&M’s Academic Building are off. The silence is broken only by foot steps along the path to the Lawrence Sullivan Ross statue. During Silver Taps, Aggies gather in front of the Lawrence Sullivan Ross statue to pay homage to their own who have died. As the Aggies gather, members of the Ross Volunteers, a Corps of Ca dets honor organization, march in cadence to the Academic Building. The RVs lines up and a 21-gun sa lute is fired into the still night in honor of the deceased. At the end of the salute, six bugl ers play a rendition of Taps, once to the west, once to the south and again to the north. RV members march back toward the quadrangle. Only the cadets’ measured marching can be heard. As quietly as the Aggies gathered, they disperse. The mystic stillness of See Taps/Page 6E &M mascot earns position as highest ranking cadet By CHRISTINE RUIZ Special to the Battalion Battalion file photo Reveille peers over cadet’s shoulder to help him study for class. It was never envisioned a stray pup could start a tradition and become a trademark of Texas A&M. Reveille, A&M’s recognizable mascot for nearly 60 years, was originally a black-and-white mutt, partly a Spitz, which appeared on campus in 1931. Records in the University Archives show nu merous discrepancies about who actually found the dog and where she camw from. The most popular version states that some Ag gies were returning from Navasota when they struck a puppy. They brought the dog on cam pus against school regulations and nursed her back to health. The pup came to be known as “Reveille” be cause of her disapproval of the eye-awakening bugle early in the morning. In a speech during his 45th class reunion in 1980, George Comnas, Class of ’35, said the pup got her name because she joined the students ev ery morning as they began exercises. Comnas said to the B-Troop Cavalry, “Here comes our Reveille,” referring to the bugle call for Reveille that occurred about the time they did their exercises. “Reveille had become a symbol of the attitude of love and affection which an animal can have for man, and a man for an animal,” Comnas said. Reveille served as first lady of A&M for more than 13 years. She died Jan. 18, 1944, and re ceived a military funeral two days later. An April 20, 1944, a Battalion article said the band played taps, Auld Lang Syne and the Aggie War Hymn. Reveille I wasn’t replaced until 1951 when a gold-and-white mixed breed of Shetland Shep pard and Collie was donated by Arthur Weinert, Class of 1900, of Seguin. Between the times of Reveille I and II, how ever, there were three other tries — Rusty, Freckles and Spot — for new macots, according to a Oct. 11, 1985, article in The Battalion. The article said Rusty, a black mutt donated in June 1946 by Tom Westbrook, Class of’46, never amounted to much of a mascot since the dog didn’t march with the band or associate with Ag gies. Freckles, belonging to Hal Mullins, Class of ’48, was elected as mascot because of her enthu siasm for the football field. But Mullins said Freckles only would be happy with him so she went when he graduated. Spot, elected in 1948, was the last attempt as a mascot before Reveille II. An Oct. 19, 1956, arti cle in The Battalion said Spot’s main objective was to chase girls and sleep. His mascot career was short-lived when he was hit by a car. Reveille II was barred from the football field twice, according to an Aug. 30, 1982, Battalion article. Because of her attacks on opposition, in cluding an assistant coach for Texas Christian University, she was the only mascot muzzled for her spirit. Reveille II served as A&M’s mascot for 14 years. She went into retirement at Final Review in May 1966 and was put to sleep on Aug. 23, 1966. Reveille III came to A&M in Spring 1966 after being donated by Randy and Steve Andes for Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Husa of Fairbanks, Alaska. Reveille III made her debut at the A&M vs. Texas Tech game in October 1966, and reigned as mascot for nearly 10 years. She died on May 31, 1975, but according to an Aug. 27, 1975, article in The Battalion, she was kept frozen for three months so she could be Reveille IV was donated by Dr. Thomas L. Goodwin. She was born May 1, 1975, and reigned as mascot for nine years, buried in the fall. She and her successor were the first mascots to attended a photo session together. Reveille IV retired after the University of Texas football game on Dec. 1, 1984. She lived comfortably with Dr. Lee Phillips of Bryan and died March 29, 1989, and was buried in April. The New York Times ran an account of her mili tary funeral. Reveille V was born August 29, 1984. She was donated by Ray Carrel, a Collie breeder from Del Rio. Reveille V, like her predecessors, has the priv ilege to do basically whatever she pleases and is the highest-ranking cadet at A&M. She marches into Kyle Field with the rest of the cadets before home games, and during games Reveille barks and growls at opposing team members. Company E-2 is responsible for the safety of Reveille V. Every year E-2 freshmen compete for the position of mascot corporal, who escorts Re veille on campus for the next school year. After each football game freshman E-2 mem bers form a block around Reveille to ensure her safety. These guards have made Reveille the only Southwest Conference mascot that has never been stolen. A family visits the gravesite of previous mascots. It is located at the north end of Kyle Field. Battalion file photo Battalion file photo Reveille attends all activities with the mascot corporal. Hwy 60 College Station 846-4177 JUST THE BODY SHOP Welcome Back Aggies! DOMESTIC • FOREIGN • TRUCKS 10% Student Discount Free Estimates ft Hwy «0 Or K 2 un. a aTm IIU'U'ErE Il'fUIIU'U'i U AQUARIUM CONCEPTS 1863 Briarcrest Bryan 776-PETS ^ We/come Back Ags! < ^ ome by and see us for the best selection of fresh and salt water fish in town! We also have a full line of fish and pet supplies including SCIENCE DIETlor your other pets as well. Bring this ad in and receive 20% off. Come by Aquarium Concepts for all your aquarium needs! Aquarium Concepts your fish care specialists! 20% off Excludes tank, dog & cat food exp 12-31-90 1U u u "in n u U'u u u uu 15u 15 15 15 15 15 15 r- . 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