[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 66 (Thursday, April 24, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E738-E739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              AGGIE MUSTER

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 24, 2008

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, I may not exactly be the biggest Texas A&M 
fan around. And, I possibly ruffle a few maroon feathers from time-to-
time poking fun at the Aggies. But, one thing I can say without a doubt 
is that there is no school known to man that has as loyal a following 
and dedication to tradition as Texas A&M. Trust me I know, I hear about 
every little quirky thing they do from my friend and former case 
manager, Patti Chapman--or ``Aggie Mama'' as her license plate proudly 
reads, and from Congressman Louie Gohmert from East Texas, with his 
maroon boots adorned with the Aggie logo.
  You can always spot an Aggie, either from their personalized license 
plate, their maroon pickup adorned with A&M stickers, or the ring--
don't forget the ring! And I have yet to meet an Aggie that doesn't 
work in to any conversation that you are having that they are an Aggie 
and what year they graduated, especially if you are not one. But with 
all their whooping and hissing, comes one tradition that I have the 
greatest respect for--Aggie Muster.
  Last week, on April 21st, Aggies all around the world paid tribute to 
those that have gone before them. This time honored tradition began in 
June of 1883 as a reunion of sorts of former students reliving their 
college days from the ball field to the battlefield. By 1889 it had 
evolved into a celebration of Texas Independence, and in 1922 it became 
the official ceremony it is today that is held every year on April 
21st--San Jacinto Day--the day Texas won its independence in 1836--to 
account for every Aggie around the world by honoring the ``Roll Call of 
the Absent.''
  According to tradition, ``if there is an A&M man in one hundred miles 
of you, you are expected to get together, eat a little, and live over 
the days you spent at the A&M College of Texas.'' The most famous 
example of this edict was the Muster of 1942 under the command of 
General George Moore during World War II. Amid fierce enemy fire, 
General Moore and 25 fellow Aggies mustered in the trenches on 
Corregidor in the Philippines. A war correspondent observed the make-
shift ceremony and the world was introduced to the Aggie spirit.
  During times of war, Muster is especially poignant. Texas A&M has 
produced more officers in the United States military than even West 
Point. It has the distinction, other than West Point, of having more 
Medal of Honor winners than any other university in the United States. 
When General George Patton was in Europe going to combat in the Third 
Army, he made a comment about the Texas Aggies and the soldiers that he 
had under his command. He said, ``Give me an army of West Point 
graduates and I will win a battle. You give me a handful of Texas 
Aggies, and I will win the war.''
  The Aggies' long tradition of duty and service to our great nation 
dates back their beginning, to the days when A&M was an all-male 
military academy. Texas A&M trained nearly 4000 troops during World War 
I and over 20,000 Aggies served in World War II, 14,000 as officers. 
The entire graduating classes of 1941 and 1942 enlisted in the 
military. The Aggie War Hymn was written by Aggie Marine J.V. ``Pinky'' 
Wilson while standing guard on the Rhine River during World War I and 
it remains the most recognizable school fight song across the country--
probably the world.
  Today, Muster is observed in more than 400 places worldwide and this 
year's ``Roll Call of the Absent'' honored 970 people around the world, 
including those remarkable young men and women who gave their lives for 
our country today. While this is a time to honor those that have died, 
it also is a time when Aggies, young and old, come together to 
reconnect and celebrate a way of life known only to those that proudly 
call themselves an Aggie.
  Muster means different things to different people. Every Aggie will 
tell you something different, something personal about what it means to 
them as an Aggie. One thing that is consistent in every answer is their 
dedication to tradition. It is the rich heritage of tradition that sets 
Texas A&M apart from all the rest. It is the Corps, the Aggie War Hymn, 
the 12th Man, Midnight Yell, Bonfire, State pride, and

[[Page E739]]

as much as it pains me to say it--it's TU. It's the Fightin' Texas 
Aggie Band, Silver Taps and ``Hallabaloo, Canek, Canek.'' It's the 
Junction Boys, Howdy, Gig'em, Reville, the Dixie Chicken and of course, 
the ring. But above all else--it's Muster.
  Gig'em Ags!
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________