Silver Taps

A Final Tribute
Freshmen in the Corps learn this about Silver Taps:

"Silver Taps is that final tribute paid to an Aggie who at the time of his or her death was enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate at Texas A&M. The notice that taps will be held is posted on the base of the flag pole in front of the academic building."

Every night at 11pm, taps is played on the Quadrangle where the Corps of Cadets lives. This signals "lights out" and all freshmen and sophomores not studying are required to go to bed. Silver Taps is a special rendition of taps that is played on the nights when an Aggie has passed away. The tradition was changed in the 1980's to occur on the first Tuesday of the month when an Aggie has died instead of the night of, because the student population has grown.

The First Silver Taps
The first silver taps was held for Lawrence Sullivian Ross, when he died in 1898. Ross was a former Governor of Texas and a president of Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. "Sully" as he is affectionately known to students, is credited with saving the college and for beginning the military tradition that brought A&M both prestige and purpose. When he served as president he started an open door policy that the faculty and staff of A&M adhere to today.

The Day Of Taps
The day of taps is solemn and quiet, Cadets on the quad refrain from "sounding off", or shouting and the uniform of the day is dress midnight's. All flags are lowered to half staff and the names of the deceased are posted on the base of the flag pole in front of the Academic building. At 10:30 PM, the lights all over campus are turned off, even the lights on coke machines are covered with a blanket, and everyone walks in silence to the plaza by the statue of "Sully". The Ross Volunteers fire a 21 gun salute and taps is played three times, once to the north, once to the south, and once to the west, taps is not played to the east to symbolize that the sun will never again rise on that Aggie. Then we all go home. From 10:00pm till the next morning nothing is said, the campus is quiet except for the sound of taps crossing the campus.

The Loss of a Family Member
Aggies are a family, and like any family we morn the loss of one of our own. The names of the deceased will be called at the Roll Call for the absent at Aggie Muster and a comrade will answer here for them to symbolize that the lost Aggie will always be here with us in spirit.