Silver Taps To Honor Aggie Senior

Silver Taps will be observed virtually Oct. 6 to honor the memory of a student who recently passed away.

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

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, university officials decided to hold the fall 2020 Silver Taps ceremonies in a virtual format. 

Silver Taps will be held at 10:30 p.m. and streamed on KAMU-TV and and Texas A&M's YouTube channel at tx.ag/OctSilverTaps20. Links and directions to the simulcast can be found on Texas A&M’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as Traditions Council's Facebook and Instagram accounts. 

Silver Taps is held the first Tuesday of each month from September-April, if necessary, following a student’s death. It is one of the final tributes held for any current professional, graduate or undergraduate student who has passed during the year.

To be honored at October's Silver Taps:

• Victoria Annette Walker ’21, a management major from Farmersville who died Aug. 30.

Her name has been added to the roll call for the 2021 Aggie Muster. Deceased Aggies who were students at the College Station campus when they died are eligible to be called at the student-run Muster at Reed Arena on April 21. (See the criteria for the Reed Arena roll call.) Their names, along with every other name on the 2021 worldwide roll call, will also be called during the live reading that will take place on April 21 at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. (See the current 2021 roll call.) Their names are also eligible to be called at one or more of the hundreds of hometown Musters that will take place around the world. (See the list of Musters currently registered for 2021.)

Related story: In a 1968 letter, a freshman described Silver Taps to his parents; weeks later, the bugles played for him. Today, every Fish Camp learns his story.

Silver Taps is hosted by Traditions Council, a student organization that works to preserve and promote the traditions of Texas A&M. Traditions Council partners with the Department of Student Assistance Services to facilitate and raise awareness of this time-honored tradition.

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. The Association of Former Students expresses our sincere appreciation to donors to The Association for helping support it financially.