Silver Taps
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Silver Taps is a tradition of Texas A&M University to honor Aggies who died while attending Texas A&M. It is a special arrangement of the military song "Taps" composed by Colonel Richard J. Dunn in the 1930s.
The ceremony began in 1898 when Taps was played to honor Lawrence Sullivan Ross, the president of then Agricultural & Mechanical College (in these days, the A&M does not stand for any specific words) and former Governor of Texas. Following a 21-gun salute by the Ross Volunteer Firing Squad in the Academic Plaza, six buglers play Silver Taps three times from the dome of the school's Academic Building: once to the north, once to the south and once to the west. The song is not played to the east because the sun is never to rise on that Aggie again.
Ceremonies are held on the first Tuesday of every month during the school year (when needed) at 10:30 P.M.
See also: Echo Taps
External links
- Silver Taps - Texas Aggie Traditions (http://aggietraditions.tamu.edu/silvertaps.shtml)
- Silver Taps - Texas A&M's Department of Student Life (http://stulife.tamu.edu/co/silvertaps.htm)