Game day for the season opener of Texas A&M football team began in reverence with the funeral of the retired first lady of Aggieland, Reveille VIII.
Speakers included Texas A&M president Michael Young, who remembered when his hiring was announced on Twitter, that was re-tweeted 20,000 times. When Reveille VIII’s retirement was announced, that was re-tweeted 250,000 times.
There were also remarks from two members of the Corps of Cadets who were among Reveille VIII’s handlers.
John Bush, class of 2011, watched the future mascot being tested by a member of the selection committee ten years ago in Topeka, Kansas.
Ryan Kreider, class of 2017, was the cadet who shielded Reveille VIII from an oncoming SMU football player in 2014. He recalls this was the tenth anniversary of the mascot’s first football game, which was also the first time he was inside Kyle Field.
Also speaking were A&M vice president of student affairs Daniel Pugh, the director of the Stevenson animal health life care center, Dr. Henry Presnall, and the center’s associate director, Ellie Greenbaum.
Six members of the Corps of Cadets who were Reveille VIII’s handlers were pallbearers.
She is buried with her seven predecessors outside the north end of Kyle Field.
