HomeMy WebLinkAboutBonfire Editorial 11/30/04
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' e age
Donnis Baggett
Publisher and Editor
Ray Wilkerson
Executive Editor
Robert C. Borden
Opinions Editor
editboard@theeagle.com
Remember loved
ones left behind
It has been five years, and still we mourn the loss of 12
young Aggies in the horrible collapse of Bonfire in the.
early hours of Nov. 18, 1999. As we prepare for the dedI-
cation of the beautiful memorial to them, we remember
them and the loved ones they left behind. We also remem-
ber the 27 who were injured, some grievously, on that ter-
rible morning.' .
There is sadness today, of course, but there also are
good memories of bright, vibrant young people who came
to this community to get an education. It is some comfort
they died doing something they loved, something that was
such a rich part of their Aggie Spirit.
They were so young, yet so mature. In so many ways
they were different, from different parts of the state and
country, with different hopes and dreams, different inter-
ests and talents.
Yet they had so much in common. They were Aggies all,
and they loved BonfIre and its long tradition. Being an
Aggie creates a bond with fellow Aggies that cannot be.
broken by years or distance or even death, We suspect m
heaven there is a special corner where Aggies can gather
and continue to whoop and holler and share speci~ mem-
ories.
Today, as we have every day for the past five years, we
remember those who died:
. Miranda Denise Adams, a sophomore biomedical sci-
ences major from Santa Fe, near Galveston.
. Christopher D. Breen of Austin, who loved A&M and
BonfIre so much that he returned to help that November
morning even though he already had graduated. .
. Michael Stephen Ebanks, a freshman aerospace engl-
'neering major from Carrollton. .
. Jeremy Richard Frampton, a senior psychology major
from Turlock, Calif. '
. Jamie Lynn Hand, a freshman environmental design
major from Henderson. . .
. Christopher Lee Heard, a freshman pre-engmeer~~g
major from Houston.
. Timothy Doran Kerlee Jr., a sophomore mechanical
engineering major from Bartlett, Tenn.
. Lucas John Kimmel, a freshman biomedical science
major from Corpus Christi. ' \
. Bryan A. McClain, a freshman agriculture major from
San Antonio.
. ChadA. Powell, a sophomore .COl11P.V:~t'~~gw.,~rmg ,
major from Keller. , . -";\ <>.~ ':'"~'. '
. Jerry Don Self, a junior engineerifig--t'echh(jlbgyJ~a!er r
from Arlington.
. Nathan Scott West, a sophomore ocean engineering
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.
We also remem15er those wlio were injured: Nate Atkin-
son, Dominic Braus, Jennifer Calaway, John Comstock,
William "Bill" Davis, Clayton Frady, Leslie Graham,
I Lanny Joe Hayes, Will Harlan, Britt Henley, Caleb Hill,
Chad Hutchinson, Jody Jacobs, Paul "Alex" Jones, Bran-
don Allen Jozwiak, John Kramer, William Lyckman, Amy
McLeod, Mandy Nakai, Matthew Robbins, Holly Rotenber-
ry, Lauren Scanlan, Milton "Chip" Thiel, Bruce Unger,
J.J. Washam, Jeremy Woodey and Derek Woodley. Our
prayers are with them as they continue to deal with the
physical and emotional pain of that day.
It is not our place to question God's mysterious ways,
why some lived and some died, why some were injured
I and some escaped unllarmed. All we can ask is God's
grace on those who were on the stack when it fell and pra~
that He continue to comfort their families and friends who
continue to mourn.
Today, most of the families of those who died, many of
those who were injured and Aggies young and 'old who
worked on BonfIre over the years will gather on campus,
surrounded by the love and support of a huge community'
of friends and Aggie family. , ,
Nothing can erase the memories of Nov. 18, 1999. Noth-
ing can bring back those wonderful young Aggies. But the
handsome memorial to their lives will ensure that future
generations of Aggies will know them and know that they
are part of a long line of Aggies who have given so muc.h