Aggie Muster
Today, as Texas A&M University celebrates and remembers Aggies who have passed during the prior year, the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) salutes those Veterans who are part of the Aggie family. Texas A&M sends more of its sons and daughters to serve as Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines than any other college in the United States, outside of the service academies.
Today’s celebration is called Muster, a military word that means a roll call to see those present and note who is absent. Wherever “two Aggies are gathered together” they are expected to hold a Muster of their own, and so Aggies today will gather across the world, usually by candlelight, and will call the names of those Aggies who will now be forever absent. Someone will answer “Here” for each name read, as no Aggie is believed to truly be gone.
The most famous of all Aggie Musters happened 80 years ago on the tiny island of Corregidor in 1942 when the American soldiers there were surrounded by the Japanese. On San Jacinto Day, April 21, their commander, Brigadier General George F. Moore, A&M class of 1908, asked a fellow Aggie officer to compile a list of all the Aggies on the island and found 27. Contrary to popular belief, there was no actual ceremony, only the list. The island fell soon afterwards, and all the soldiers were taken prisoner. Many of them would never go home.
In 1946, after the war had been won, over 100 Aggies did celebrate Muster in a reverent way in the Malinto Tunnel, the bombproof site that during WWII the soldiers used as a supply depot, headquarters, and makeshift hospital. In addition to others, they honored the names of the twelve Aggie soldiers whose names were on the original list and who died as POWs.
Musters have been celebrated in almost every country in the world, and in every battle zone where Americans have fought since WWII. There are recorded Musters in Iraq and Afghanistan. The largest Muster is celebrated on campus in College Station, but there are dozens around Texas and many in other parts of the country.
The VLB solemnly recognizes Aggie Muster, and we answer “Here” for our veteran Aggies who are no longer with us.
The VLB is happy to provide any needed help for these American heroes. The mission for the VLB is “to ensure that we offer the very best package of Veterans benefits in the country and those of us who work for the VLB strive to meet those goals every day. For more than 70 years, we have had the honor to serve Veterans, Military Members and their families in Texas, and we look forward to keeping that promise in the years to come.” Call 1–800–252–8387, email VLBinfo@glo.texas.gov, or visit vlb.texas.gov to see the different benefits available.
If you are a Veteran, thank you for your service. Click Here to Sign Up to stay informed on your benefits with the Texas Veterans Land Board.
