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How we got to Here

How we began saying
' Here'  for each other

See how Texas A&M's most honored tradition came to be. Candles and even the Roll Call were added to Aggie Muster over time.

Over 100 years ago, Texas A&M's Association of Former Students put out the call:

'If there is an A&M man in one hundred miles of you, you are expected to get together, eat a little, sup a little and live over the days you spent at the A&M College of Texas.'

Today, there are hundreds of Aggie Muster gatherings every April 21, all over the world.

But even though Muster is one of Texas A&M's oldest traditions, not all the elements were in place from the beginning ' not even the name.

Video by Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications

Attendee holding candle during vigil at Muster

Beginnings

Remember San Jacinto

The 1836 battle of San Jacinto ' sealing Texas' independence from Mexico ' was only 40 years in the past when Texas A&M was founded. Its date, April 21, was a school holiday at Texas A&M.

In the 1890s, cadets would travel to the San Jacinto battlefield near Houston to help re-enact the battle, and in 1899 it became a highly popular annual campus field day that continued for years, according to John A. Adams, Jr. '73, author of Softly Call the Muster and other Texas A&M history books.

The day was becoming special to Texas A&M students.

Forerunner of the roll call

Meanwhile, former students began holding annual reunions on campus in June, coming back to Texas A&M for commencement. These alumni groups became The Association of Former Students.

They typically closed their meetings by reading the names of those who had passed away since the last gathering, Adams said.

'They got the idea from veterans' organizations or fraternal organizations' such as the Masons, he said. 'It was a normal thing to do at an annual meeting.'

The practice started in June 1880 and continued at least into the 1930s, according to Adams. But answering each name with 'Here' was still some years in the future.

Muster roll call.

Photo by Jesse Everett '21/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications

Article image saying: The date is April 21st, the time is any time int he day that is the most convenient, but if there is an A. & M. man in one hundred miles of you you are expected to get together, eat a little, sup a little and live over the days you spent at the A. and M. College of Texas. Forget business, forget other social duties you may be expected to perform; put everything aside that will in anyway interfere.

Image from April 15, 1923, Texas Aggie

1910s-20s

Meeting off campus

Soon, former students began using April 21 as a day to get together off campus, wherever they were. When the U.S. entered World War I, some Aggies in the military held April 21 get-togethers while serving in Europe.

These might be informal gatherings for lunch or dinner marking San Jacinto Day.

In the 1920s and '30s, Texas A&M and The Association of Former Students encouraged Aggies to form A&M Clubs and meet up on April 21.

The Association's Texas Aggie magazine printed the famous call, 'If there is an A&M man in one hundred miles of you, you are expected to get together,' in its April 15, 1923, edition.

1930s

'Slap-bang' gatherings

These could be boisterous and friendly meetings.

In 1935, April 21 Aggie gatherings across Texas and the U.S. included a family barbecue in Wichita Falls, a 'stag smoker' in Dallas and banquet dinners at hotels in Chicago and Knoxville, Tennessee, according to Texas Aggie.

Maybe some were even a little too boisterous: 'Too much 'Bull' ' with nothing worth remembering the next day ' is a common criticism of many A. and M. meetings,' wrote Association head E.E. 'Mac' McQuillen, Class of 1920, who was always looking for ways to keep Aggies closely connected.

Soon, McQuillen would get a chance to invest these meetings with a deep emotional resonance ' even though, as he wrote, formality was initially 'foreign to our 'slap-bang' Aggie style.''

News article snippit: Knoxville Celevrates San Jacinto

Some April 21 gatherings were 'stag' events (men only), but Aggies did bring dates to their San Jacinto dinner in 1935 at the Farragut Hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Image from June 10, 1935, Texas Aggie

1946 Muster photo

1940s

Answering 'Here'

Just a few months into World War II, a story of Aggies celebrating San Jacinto Day under siege made headlines.

Although the troops on Corregidor Island in April 1942 were pinned down under bombardment and unable to actually gather, the commander, an Aggie, ordered that a list be made of all Texas A&M men present.

The story got news coverage nationwide.'

In 1943, The Association of Former Students sent out directions to hundreds of Aggies to gather on April 21 for 'Muster' ' the first time this name was applied ' and to call the names of the Aggies captured or killed on Corregidor.

This was the first time that Aggies answered 'Here' for each other on Muster, according to Adams.

McQuillen's instructions read, 'In the first year of this custom you should explain its procedure here in advance. As the name of each man present at the famous Corregidor meeting is called, a close friend, classmate or any Aggie present, should stand, answer 'Here!' and remain standing at attention until this tribute is completed.'

In 1943, most of the Corregidor Aggies were still alive, but prisoners of war. Soon, however, Aggies extended the tradition to answering 'Here' for comrades killed in the war.

Hundreds of Aggie Musters were held around the world in the following years.'

One of the most famous was in 1946, soon after the war's end, when Aggies returned to Corregidor Island in victory and honored those who had been lost.

Famous 1946 Muster Photo

Photo by James T. Danklefs '43

Aggie holding the picture of the 1946 Muster

A muster in the sky

Line of attendees holding candles during Muster

Candles begin off-campus

As Aggies gathered off-campus at local Musters in the 1960s, Jack Fritts '53 started the tradition of lighting candles during the ceremony at Lubbock's Muster, as a way to add a pause for reflection.

He later brought the idea to the Austin Muster. From there, it spread to other Musters.

In 1980, candles were used in the campus Muster for the first time. The idea was so new that the student Muster Committee hadn't budgeted money to buy the candles. Committee notes record that a former student from Houston stepped in and provided them.

Worldwide Muster Roll Call

To ensure that no Aggie's name would be missed, in 2018 The Association began a livestreamed Worldwide Muster Roll Call to read out the entire Muster roll.

The names on the roll are those reported to The Association since the previous Muster. All Aggies' help is sought to ensure that names are included at tx.ag/RollCall.

As over 1,200 names are read aloud over the course of two or more hours, Association staff and fellow Aggies mark each one present by responding, 'Here.'

Picture outside of the Association of Former Students building showing the giant Aggie Ring

Reading Every Name

The 2018 Live Worldwide Muster Roll Call for the Absent marked the first time in at least 75 years, and possibly ever, that an entire annual Muster roll was called.

Every Aggie's name will
be called one day

No other university has a tradition like this, connecting both current and former students worldwide. How do names get on the list?

Each year on April 21, at more than 200 locations around the world, current and former students of Texas A&M gather for camaraderie and to honor those who have passed away in the previous year.

It's a massive undertaking, unlike any other college tradition.' How does it come together?

The hub of worldwide Aggie Muster is The Association of Former Students, which created the Muster ceremony and charters Texas A&M Clubs worldwide.

Today, The Association maintains the worldwide Muster list of names. It provides hundreds of Muster chairs with support and resources. And using its massive database, it sends Muster invitations to hundreds of thousands of Aggies.

Association staff member helping families

Helping families

An Association staff member describes helping Aggie Muster families: 'I knew that I had been served in that way when my mom passed.'

Musters Around the World

Nearly 300 Aggie Musters are held each year.

Map of the world with Muster locations Icon of globe being encircled by an airplane

Swipe left or right to see Musters around the world!

Two aggies holding A&M banner

Adding names

When an Aggie passes away and that news is sent to The Association, their name is placed on the Worldwide Muster Roll.'

All Aggies' help is requested in making sure this list is complete every year.

You can check the list at tx.ag/RollCall, and if you see that a name is missing, send it to AddAName@AggieNetwork.com.

Local Musters draw their lists of names from these notices.

2019 Robertson County Aggie Muster photo

2019 Robertson County Aggie Muster photo by Sue Owen '94

Muster Chairs

The largest Muster is the one organized on campus by Texas A&M students. Hundreds more are held by local Aggies through The Association.

Muster chairs start planning as early as November to get the largest possible group of Aggies in their area together on April 21 or a nearby date. The Association provides them with resources, checklists, songs, poems, history and more.

For the student Muster on campus, The Association provides funding and other support every year.

Sending your invitation

Once you are a former student, if you keep your email address and your ZIP Code updated in The Association's database (tx.ag/FindAnAggie), you'll receive an email when there is a Muster scheduled in your area. Or you can check the map at tx.ag/FindAMuster.

The Find An Aggie database is an online directory, free to all Aggies, that includes over 625,000 connections.

Image of the Worldwide Muster Roll Call being recited.

Photo by Richard Badillo for The Association of Former Students

Worldwide Muster Roll Call

There are over 1,200 names on the worldwide list every year. So each local Muster, including the campus Muster, calls their own list of local names at Muster.'

To ensure that not a single name is missed, The Association calls the entire list and answers 'Here' for each Aggie in the live Worldwide Muster Roll Call. This event, which usually lasts more than two hours, is livestreamed every April 21 at AggieNetwork.com.

The promise that is implicitly made to every Aggie is: We each will be called. We will not be forgotten. Our fellow Aggies are here for us.'

It is a trust The Association works year-round to uphold.

Group of aggies giving gig'em.

Make a gift to help Muster continue

Gifts made to The Association's Annual Fund help support Aggie Muster as well as other traditions, scholarships and academic excellence at Texas A&M.

Make your gift today

Thanks to your gifts, The Association is able to provide this support every year:

  • Maintaining and updating worldwide Muster roll: tx.ag/RollCall
  • Support and services to local Musters, such as invitations, guidance and checklists
  • Worldwide Muster Roll Call reading of all names and Muster Live website
  • $16,000 per year to student Muster Committee
  • Designing and creating campus Muster poster and printed programs
  • Muster songs, poems and videos online: tx.ag/MusterMedia
  • Database of Muster speakers: tx.ag/SpeakersBureau
  • Aggie Ring Remembrance event for family of current students who pass away
  • 50 Year Reunion held in conjunction with campus Muster

What to expect when
attending a Muster

Around the world or online, every Aggie Muster event is different. Here is how to attend and get involved.

Every year, some families, friends and new Aggies will be experiencing Aggie Muster for the first time.

Read on for details that can help them prepare for these events:

Also, visit tx.ag/AnswerHere to learn how to ensure an Aggie's name is on the roll at the Muster'you plan to attend.

Signage points the way to the Robertson County A&M Club Muster.

Signage points the way to the Robertson County A&M Club Muster.

Photo by Sue Owen '94

At the 2022 campus Muster, future Texas A&M president Gen. Mark A. Welsh III spoke about the event's personal meaning to him.

Welsh's 2022 speech

At the 2022 campus Muster, future Texas A&M president Gen. Mark A. Welsh III spoke about the event's personal meaning to him.

Student-run campus Muster

The largest Muster is organized and conducted by Aggie students on the evening of April 21 in Texas A&M's basketball arena.'

Thousands attend; entry is free, and attire is somewhat formal, with darker colors such as maroon, black and gray encouraged.

The two-hour'event'includes several speakers, Aggie songs from the Singing Cadets and a three-volley rifle salute by the Ross Volunteers.

During the Roll Call, more than 100 Aggies' names are read, with a friend or family member on the arena floor holding a candle for each.'

Members of the audience respond with 'Here' when they hear the name of an Aggie they know.

The names are mainly current Texas A&M students and faculty, former students directly related to a current student and a few other specific categories.

Families of the honorees select one person to hold a candle and one guest to sit with them; the rest of the family will be assigned seats nearby.

Local Musters around the world

Worldwide,'Musters vary widely in size and formality. They might be in a hotel ballroom, a Tex-Mex restaurant or an Aggie's backyard, in a brewpub or on a battleship.

Many feature a dinner or other meal, such as a potluck or barbecue. There is often a Muster speaker and reading of Muster poems. Typically, all in attendance will sing the Aggie War Hymn and The Spirit of Aggieland together.

They usually include a roll call of Aggies lost in the past year ' mainly local residents and names requested by Aggies in attendance. This often includes lighting a candle for each name.

Nearly all these Musters can add a name to their roll call for you, and likely invite you to hold a candle. You might wish to choose a Muster located near where most of the family or friends can gather.'

You can also host your own Muster, either privately or open to the public. Any April 21 gathering of two or more Aggies can be a Muster. Register yours to ensure it is part of the worldwide map of recorded Musters.'

A collection of 2019 Muster programs includes the order of speakers, songs and readings at the Denton County A&M Club's Muster.

A collection of 2019 Muster programs includes the order of speakers, songs and readings at the Denton County A&M Club's Muster.

Photo by Sue Owen '94

Australia Muster Gathering Egypt Muster Gathering Hawaii Muster Gathering India Muster Gathering New York Muster Gathering Panama Muster Gathering Singapore Muster Gathering Texas Bandera Muster Gathering Texas Bryan Muster Gathering Viginia Muster Gathering

Worldwide Muster Roll Call

At 6:51 a.m. April 21, The Association of Former Students begins a live reading of all known names of Aggies who have passed away since the previous Muster ' usually more than 1,200 names ' and answers 'Here' for each.

The reading is streamed online at MusterLive.AggieNetwork.com. It lasts more than two hours and is replayable after it ends.'

The website allows visitors to upload photos and memories and say a virtual 'Here' for the Aggies being honored.

Image of stream being recorded.

Photo by Richard Badillo for The Association of Former Students

Image of Australian Muster gathering.

Get Involved

Address

505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840

Phone Number

(979) 845-7514

© 2025 The Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University, All Rights Reserved