November 17th 2024.
As the night settled over Texas, a sense of unease began to fill the air. In the quiet darkness, a haunting sound could be heard emanating from a towering stack of logs. Witnesses reported hearing an eerie moaning and creaking before a loud crack echoed through the night. Suddenly, the center pole snapped and the entire stack came crashing down, a devastating event that would leave a lasting mark on the community.
It was November 18, 1999, and the annual bonfire at Texas A&M University was being constructed in preparation for the upcoming football game against their long-standing rival, the University of Texas. But in a matter of seconds, everything changed. More than a million pounds of timber fell, claiming the lives of 12 individuals and injuring many more. The university, steeped in tradition and pride, was forever scarred.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the tragedy, and the school plans to hold a solemn remembrance ceremony at the site of the collapse. At 2:42 a.m., the time when the logs came tumbling down, the community will come together to honor and remember those who were lost. As President Mark Welsh III stated, the students of Texas A&M have made it their mission to never forget those who were taken from them on that fateful night.
The bonfire itself was a revered tradition, known as the "Fightin' Texas Aggie Bonfire," and represented the school's fierce desire to defeat their rival on the football field. It began as a small scrap heap in 1907, but by 1909, it had evolved into a grand campus event. Each year, the stack grew taller and taller, with materials being brought in by trainloads. In 1969, it reached a record height of 105 feet, but safety concerns led to a limit of 55 feet. Over time, the stack took on a tiered wedding cake shape, which would ultimately prove to be its downfall.
The bonfire drew crowds of up to 70,000 people each year and burned without fail, except for in 1963 after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. But in 1999, tragedy struck. The stack, comprised of over 5,000 logs, collapsed just a week before it was set to be lit. The victims included students from all levels, including members of the school's Corps of Cadets, who played a significant role in the construction of the bonfire.
As rescuers, including members of the Texas A&M football team, worked to free and save the trapped victims, the rival University of Texas stepped in to offer their support. They organized a blood drive to assist the survivors. An investigation later revealed that the collapse was caused by flawed construction and unqualified student workers.
In 2003, a memorial was dedicated at the site of the collapse. The "Spirit Ring" features 12 portals, one for each victim, which contain engraved portraits and signatures, pointing towards their hometowns. Visitors can step into the open archway, symbolically filling the void left by the deceased.
The annual bonfire was discontinued as an official school event after the tragedy, but students have continued to organize and build unofficial off-campus bonfires over the years. This year, with the renewal of the Texas-Texas A&M football rivalry, there was talk of reviving the bonfire tradition. However, after careful consideration, President Welsh decided that it should remain in the past. While it was a significant part of the school's history, both good and bad, it was ultimately too dangerous to bring back. Nonetheless, students plan to continue their own bonfire tradition off-campus, keeping the spirit of the bonfire alive.
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