Silver Taps To Honor Eight Aggies

The first Silver Taps of the 2018-19 school year on Tuesday, Sept. 4, is planned to honor the memories of eight recently deceased Texas A&M students. 

In case of inclement weather, they will be recognized at Silver Taps in October. Watch the student Traditions Council's social media for updates: @TradCouncil on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Silver Taps is a tribute paid to an Aggie who, at the time of his or her death, was enrolled in graduate or undergraduate courses at Texas A&M.

Chimes from Albritton Bell Tower will play as Aggies gather in the plaza area in front of the Academic Building. Campus will be darkened at 10:20 p.m.; then at 10:30 p.m., the silence will be split by the slow, echoing cadence of the Ross Volunteers. 

Following the firing of three volleys, six buglers from the Aggie Band, unseen in the darkness, will play a special arrangement of Taps three times—to the north, west and south—to honor the memories of these Aggies:

• Emily Lynne Chaffin '20, a finance major from Tomball.
• William Montgomery “Monty” Gano '19, an agricultural economics major from New Mexico.
• Erik Kyle Hanson '21, a general studies major from Austin.
• Mehrzad Monzavi '20, a mathematics graduate student from Arlington.
• Adolfo Payan Jr. '19, a meteorology major from El Paso.
• Alan Chuong Ton '19, a biomedical science major from Cypress.
• Anna Dryden Wegener '21, a biomedical science major from Tyler.
• Mark Christopher Wilson '18, a chemical engineering graduate student from Oklahoma.

At the request of their families, three eligible students will be honored at a future Silver Taps: . Thomas Pierce Followwill '18, Andrew Keith Kalinke '21 and Joseph William Little '22.

Free parking in the University Center Garage will be available between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. For more information on parking, go http://transport.tamu.edu/Parking/events/annual.aspx.

Silver Taps is a solemn and serious event, and these traditions should be honored:

• The area between the Sul Ross statue and the Academic Building is reserved for the friends and family of the deceased.
• Do not stand or sit on the benches lining the walkway between the flagpole and the Sul Ross statue.
• The darkness and quiet, which cover the campus, emphasize the mood for Silver Taps. Aggies help to retain this tranquility by covering windows, keeping noise to a minimum, and walking to and from the ceremony without talking.

Formerly, Silver Taps was observed as soon as possible after the death of an Aggie. Today it is held on the first Tuesday of each month from September to April, if necessary. If the first Tuesday in September falls during the first week of the fall semester, that ceremony is held on the second Tuesday of September. Silver Taps ceremonies are not conducted during the summer when many Aggies are away from campus. 

For more information about Silver Taps, visit studentlife.tamu.edu/sas.silvertaps or contact Student Assistance Services at (979) 845-3113.

Silver Taps is one of Texas A&M's greatest traditions. We express our sincere appreciation to donors to The Association for helping support it financially.