About Muster

The Muster tradition began at a meeting of the Association of Ex-Cadets on June 26, 1883. A statement of objectives noted: “In reunion we meet and live over again our college days, the victories and defeats won and lost upon the drill field and in the classroom. Let every alumnus answer a roll call.” During the 1890s, the Corps of Cadets made annual visits to the San Jacinto Battlefield, followed by a parade down Houston’s Main Street as celebrations of San Jacinto each April 21 became the custom. In the early 1900s, it was agreed that in addition to honoring the freedom of Texas, April 21 would be a time to pay homage to all current and former students who had passed on; a living comrade would answer “Here” when the roll call for the absent was read. During World War I, groups of Aggies met in trenches all over Europe and at Army posts in America, but no April 21 events were held on campus.

In 1923, a nationwide rally of former students was planned to provide Aggies an opportunity to “meet old friends again and live over the old days in College Station.” Student radio station WTAW broadcast a special program consisting of a medley of A&M songs, words from football Coach D.X. Bible, and Aggie yells by the cadets. The March 1923 Texas Aggie urged, “If there is an A&M man within one hundred miles of you, you are expected to get together, eat a little, and live over the days you spent at the A&M College of Texas.” By 1929, the meetings had become international, and in 1942, A&M Muster gained international recognition when 25 men, led by General George Moore ’08, mustered during the Japanese siege of the Philippine island of Corregidor. In addition, two Aggies reportedly held Muster in a submarine.

And so it has been over the years, since that small group of Aggies on a beleaguered outpost of World War II inspired what has developed into one of our greatest traditions. Muster is more than a ceremony. It represents a pledge and a responsibility that A&M men and women have handed down from year to year, from generation to generation. It gives us a chance to renew our loyalty and unity, which constitute the basic foundation of our friendship for each other and our love and devotion for our school.

Aggie Muster began as a celebration of Texas’ victory over Mexico at the Battle of San Jacinto. “San Jacinto Day” was set aside as April 21 by college administrators and was a day of track and field events celebrating Texas’ independence. Throughout the years, April 21 continued to evolve and became the homecoming for Aggies. In 1922, the first major organized celebration took place in Waco, Texas, and in 1924, Texas Aggie magazine stated, “In every town where there are as many as two Aggies, let us have a meeting April 21.”

Texas A&M’s first campus Muster ceremony took place in 1944, and in 1946, the Victory Homecoming Muster was held at Kyle Field with General Dwight D. Eisenhower as speaker. Muster has been held on campus at Guion Hall, Kyle Field, the grass of the Memorial Student Center, G. Rollie White, the steps of the Systems Building, and currently at Reed Arena. The week of Muster serves as the reunion for the 50-year class and a day of camaraderie for current and former students. The day begins with a flag-raising ceremony and a barbecue in the Academic Plaza, followed by the evening’s ceremony in Reed Arena. The ceremony consists of traditional Muster poems, a keynote speaker, and a Roll Call for the Absent. During the Roll Call for the Absent, the names of those Aggies who have passed away within the last year are called, and a loved one answers “Here.” Currently, there are over 400 Musters held worldwide, with the largest being held on campus at Reed Arena.

The Aggie Muster Committee finds its roots in 1943, when the first planned Muster ceremony took place. At this time, packets were created outlining a suggested ceremony format. In 1945, a committee of 45 cadets organized the campus Muster, and by 1950, a permanent committee was established.

The following is a brief history of Aggie Muster. For more detailed information, the definitive work on this subject is Softly Call the Muster by Dr. John A. Adams (Texas A&M University Press, ISBN 0-89096-586-2).

Muster is an old military word meaning gathering, roll call, or the retirement of a soldier. Muster on the Texas A&M campus began in 1883 as a time for Aggies to remember their college days. In 1889, Muster evolved into a San Jacinto field day to remember the battle in which Texas won its independence. Throughout World War I, Aggies began to gather around the nation on April 21. The first major San Jacinto celebration occurred not in College Station, but in Waco in 1922. In 1924, the first major organized observance of Muster on A&M’s campus occurred. Three years later, Taps was played in honor of the dead. Over time, new traditions pertaining to campus Muster evolved.

During World War II, many Aggies were called to battle. One of the most famous Musters occurred in 1942 in the midst of Japanese fire on the island of Corregidor. Many other Musters occurred worldwide during the war, and they continue to occur. In 1946, a victory homecoming was held at Kyle Field, where 15,000 people gathered to hear the keynote speaker, General Dwight D. Eisenhower. This homecoming included three days of banquets, and the dorms were cleaned and made available for guests to rent. On April 21, 1951, the Memorial Student Center was dedicated in honor of those Aggies who sacrificed their lives in World War II, and the Muster was held on the front lawn.

From 1970 to 1997, all but a few of the campus Musters were held in G. Rollie White Coliseum. In 1998, Campus Muster was moved from G. Rollie White to the newly completed Reed Arena. In the early 1980s, the lighting of the candles during the Roll Call for the Absent became a part of Campus Muster. This part of the ceremony first began in Lubbock in the mid-1960s. In 2020, Aggie Muster was held virtually for the first time in our history due to COVID-19. Aggie Muster brings together Aggies past, present, and future to recognize the Aggies who lost their lives within the last year.

All budget and financial records are kept by the Finance Chair and saved in that year’s finance binder. Past finance binders can be found in the Muster Cube.

Due to the nature of the committee and the ceremony, the Muster Committee does not have or require any insurance policies.