Got a little story for ya Ags!
This is a bit long, but please bear with me because it truly highlights why Aggies are such a special group of people. Prior to departing for my first overseas assignment (Syria), my family had a going away party for me in Austin and invited my friends from college. All of us had worked together as medics at Texas A&M EMS and had become quite close over the years.
This is a bit long, but please bear with me because it truly highlights why Aggies are such a special group of people. Prior to departing for my first overseas assignment (Syria), my family had a going away party for me in Austin and invited my friends from college. All of us had worked together as medics at Texas A&M EMS and had become quite close over the years.
Little did I know that my mom had e-mailed all of my friends ahead of time and asked each of them to bring a memento or a little something to remember them by. People brought something different and unique and my mom put them all together in an album. There was one item in particular that was too big to go in an album. It was a glass jar covered in milk cows with a clear, glass Christmas ornament in it wrapped in paper towel. It looked a bit dusty on the outside when I went to open it. Too my surprise, the ornament was filled with ashes and on the outside it said “’94 Aggie Bonfire.” I had just been entrusted with the remains of one of the most sacred traditions at Texas A&M. Since the 1999 Bonfire tragedy, which took the lives of 12 students, A&M has not had an officially sanctioned Bonfire. For those that had the opportunity to participate in Bonfire know that it was a monumental undertaking that brought students from all walks of life together for a common cause. No other university event built the kind of camaraderie that Bonfire did.
Knowing that I had such a personal treasure, I did my best to protect it knowing that some day I would return it. I made the decision to take some of the ashes out and put them in something a little smaller and easier to carry. I took 2 little Tabasco bottles from a MRE and replaced the sauce with Bonfire ashes.
Most of you know I have the opportunity to travel quite a bit with my job, sometimes a lot more than I want. Not only did I take these ashes with me to Syria, but these two little bottles have traveled all over the world with me to over 30 different countries.
Jennifer Johnson ‘98, known to most of us as Jenn Carr, was the person who entrusted me with something very special to her and sacred to all of us. I carried two Tabasco bottles with me so I could keep one and give one to Jenn when I returned the ashes back to her. Jenn, I’ve had these ashes for 8 years now and I think its time I give them back to you. Thank you so much for giving me such an extraordinary keepsake that has been with me through thick and thin.
Truly Good Bull. Thanks and Gig’em!!!
Knowing that I had such a personal treasure, I did my best to protect it knowing that some day I would return it. I made the decision to take some of the ashes out and put them in something a little smaller and easier to carry. I took 2 little Tabasco bottles from a MRE and replaced the sauce with Bonfire ashes.
Most of you know I have the opportunity to travel quite a bit with my job, sometimes a lot more than I want. Not only did I take these ashes with me to Syria, but these two little bottles have traveled all over the world with me to over 30 different countries.
Jennifer Johnson ‘98, known to most of us as Jenn Carr, was the person who entrusted me with something very special to her and sacred to all of us. I carried two Tabasco bottles with me so I could keep one and give one to Jenn when I returned the ashes back to her. Jenn, I’ve had these ashes for 8 years now and I think its time I give them back to you. Thank you so much for giving me such an extraordinary keepsake that has been with me through thick and thin.
Truly Good Bull. Thanks and Gig’em!!!
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