Remembering Bonfire
From its inception as a scrap heap in 1907 to the more familiar and stack of vertical logs, the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Bonfire symbolized every Aggie’s “burning desire” to beat the University of Texas in football. Attracting between 30,000 and 70,000 people each year to watch it burn, Bonfire became a symbol of the deep and unique camaraderie that is the Aggie Spirit.
Aside from a brief hiatus in 1963, the Texas A&M Bonfire burned annually from its inception through 1998. In 1963, the stack was fully constructed but ultimately dismantled as a tribute to President John F. Kennedy following his assassination on Nov. 22. The only other time the tradition was halted occurred nearly 92 years after the first Bonfire, following a tragic structural collapse at 2:42 a.m. on Nov. 18, 1999. This devastating event claimed the lives of 12 Aggies and left 27 others injured, forever changing the university’s history.
Five years later, the Bonfire Memorial was dedicated on the exact location of the fallen 1999 Bonfire.
The Bonfire Memorial embodies many layers of meaning associated with the Aggie Spirit — a deep sense of belonging, a strong spirit of teamwork, and leadership and an enduring sense of tradition that unites thousands. The Bonfire Memorial celebrates the tradition, history and spirit of Texas A&M and the dedication of those involved in the tragic collapse of the 1999 Bonfire. Uniting Aggies past, present and future, the Memorial is comprised of three design elements: The Tradition Plaza marks the entrance to the memorial and reflects on the activities that bring Aggies together. Spirit Wall separates the outer world from the intimate experience of the memorial, while the Last Corps Trip Wall recites the poem traditionally read prior to the lighting of Bonfire each year.