A candlelight vigil at 2:42 a.m. Nov. 18 -- the 10-year anniversary of the deadly collapse of bonfire -- will culminate a weeklong remembrance of the event, officials said Tuesday.
Jacob Robinson, like many on the committee formed to mark the catastrophe, never saw bonfire burn on campus. But he and others shed tears while viewing clips of the aftermath for a memorial video they are making, he said.
"We don't know the 12 who died, but they're Aggies, and we're all part of the Aggie family," said Robinson, who led the committee representing several student groups and others.
Bonfire hasn't been held on campus since the 1999 collapse, which also injured 27 and embroiled Texas A&M in nearly a decade of litigation. An off-campus group conducts a smaller version not sanctioned by the university.
Gov. Rick Perry fueled a long-simmering debate among Aggies when he said in September that bonfire would return to campus. Texas A&M officials said no plans were in place, and that any such push would have to originate from students.
"We set out to honor the fallen, the injured, their families and the 1999 bonfire, and nothing else," Robinson said. "In no way, shape or form was whether bonfire is coming back even brought up in our meetings.
"As we move toward this ceremony, it's my hope and desire that we could put that debate aside."
Marissa Sibal, a senior finance major and member of the Traditions Council, said the committee will have 2,500 candles at the vigil, held at the site of the collapse, which now features a memorial. But she requested that attendees bring their own to ensure there are enough.
An event in Reed Arena set for 8 p.m. Nov. 17 will be similar to the university's Muster ceremony and reminiscent of the program held the evening of the collapse, student organizers said.
The week also will feature exhibits of photographs and memorabilia related to the 100-year tradition. The displays will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 13-16 in Rudder Exhibit Hall and from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Nov. 18 in the Sam Houston Sanders Corps Center.
Commemorative T-shirts with the words "We Remember" cost $10. All proceeds will go toward the Bonfire Memorial Fund. The shirts will be available through the end of the semester at the Memorial Student Bookstore, now in G. Rollie White Coliseum, and at mscbookstore.com.
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