Issue date: 11/18/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Nicholas Badger Richard West, father of Bonfire victim Nathan West, speaks on behalf of the families of the 12 killed in the Bonfire collapse. Behind him sits (left to right) Student Body President Kolin Loveless, 1999-2000 Student Body President Will Hurd, Corps of Cadets Commander Brent Lanier, Interim President R. Bowen Loftin and Executive Vice President of Student Government Association Jacob Robinson. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Rachel Nhan Students gather inside Reed Arena Tuesday for the Bonfire Remembrance ceremony. [Click to enlarge]

Etched into the walls at the Bonfire memorial from the poem "The Last Corps Trip" are the words "the band poured for the Anthem, with notes both loud and clear, and 10,000 Aggie sung, the song they held so dear." On Nov. 19, 1999 Aggie voices rang out loud and clear in Reed Arena. It wasn't the "Anthem" - it wasn't the "War Hymn." It was "Amazing Grace." And they were singing it for the fallen.

A decade later, and 100 years after the establishment of Bonfire, Aggies joined in singing once again at Reed Arena. This time it was the "Spirit of Aggieland." And they were singing it to celebrate the lives of the fallen.

The crowd sat in silence, reminiscent of the first memorial service held the night after the collapse. Since then the number of attendees has grown from 2,000 to more than 7,500, filling the lower bowl and arena floor.

The "Spirit of Aggieland" led by the Singing Cadets was only a part of the night dedicated to Bonfire remembrance. The ceremony also included remarks from Executive Vice President of the Student Government Association Jacob Robinson, Interim President R. Bowen Loftin, reflections of 1999 Student Body President Will Hurd, a history of Bonfire given by current Corps of Cadets Commander Brent Lanier, comments from Richard West, father of Class of 2002 Nathan Scott West one of the 12 Aggies killed and a closing statement by current Student Body President Kolin Loveless.

Each speaker focused on the message of moving past the sadness and celebrating the lives of the deceased students and what has come out of their death.

Robinson started the program urging students to "remember and reflect on the lives of the twelve Aggies who are no longer present in the physical sense, but who remain ever present in our minds and hearts."

Loftin highlighted the encouragement and community Aggies share with each other, and the victims of the Bonfire tragedy and their families.

"We truly share a bond no one else has, and we will never lose," Loftin said.

At the remembrance program, the families of the deceased and injured were more than just symbolically a part of the Aggie family.

Judi Hedstrom, mother of Jeremy Frampton who died at Bonfire, expressed the theme of celebrating, not mourning.

"Each year we try to find a way to celebrate his life and being able to be here on campus and celebrate with the Aggie family is just amazing," Hedstrom said.

West received a standing ovation in response to his retelling of his experiences after the collapse, and made a call to dedicate the 10 year anniversary to celebration.

"When you stand in the portals [of the memorial] the lives speak of dreams and futures of Aggies, not sadness. You stand in for them," West said. "It's time to be happy and remember their spirit."

West closed his remarks with what he called a small word that has such a large meaning to the Aggie family, "Howdy." The "Howdy," he said, was to honor the future of current Aggies and Aggies to come.

A special Bonfire remembrance video was shown at the memorial program, one that left the audience in silence. The video, a collage of footage, presented things such as the shock of the collapse, the race to rescue those who still remained trapped, prayers and gifts left at makeshift memorial sites, the candlelight vigil, the celebration of the game victory and the groundbreaking of the memorial.

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