18 Jan 2019 - Tour of Texas A&M Campus and Dinner with the Drew & Dorothy DeHaes

18 Jan 2019
We had a late evening yesterday and ran out of time to update the blog, so this is Friday's report.

Weather continues to be rainy and cool. Temps dipped at the mid-40's overnight.  We hung around the RV in the morning and headed over to Drew and Dorothy DeHaes house at 1300 hrs.  Since he retired  from the military they moved from Iowa back to their home state of Texas and have settle here in College Station.  Drew flys for United Airlines out of Houston so it is a reasonable commute from here.  They built a beautiful home here and invited us over for dinner tonight but first we are headed to Texas A&M University to do a walking tour the campus, their Alma mater.

Football is huge in Texas, and so are their football stadiums!  We started with a pass by Kyle Field, Texas A&M's football stadium since 1905.  Seating capacity is 102,733! 

Aerial view (from A&M fact sheet)

As we walked Drew described the deep rooted traditions of this beautiful campus.  One is the 'Twelfth Man' , described on the plaque below.

E. King Gill, the Twelfth Man.

 The entire student body attending stands throughout the game demonstrating their support for the team not unlike E. King Gill, and therefore considered the modern day 'Twelfth Man'.  Awesome traditions!

Another is 'Reveille', the name of their team canine mascot, going back to 1931.  Reveille is the highest ranking member of the A&M Corps of Cadets.  They have established a cemetery at the north end of the stadium for those Reveille's that have passed.  After a stadium expansion view of the scoreboard was blocked so they installed a functional scoreboard at the cemetery!

Texas A&M's Corps of Cadets has a huge presence here.  Technically, participation is mandatory for all students but apparently many are excused.  Except for the service academies, A&M is one of the largest uniformed student bodies.  A&M is one of six United States Senior Military Colleges in the United States.  Many members participate in ROTC programs and about 40 percent earn military commissions in the United States Armed Forces upon graduation.

Honoring Aggies who have given the ultimate sacrifice to their Country.

Statue of Lawrence Sullivan Ross, former President of the Agricultural and Mechanical College in the late 1800's.  The tradition goes that students who put pennies on his boot will receive good luck with their exams.

The silver flag pole and the tradition of 'Silver Taps' where Aggies who have passed away are honored.  This happens throughout the United States as well as here on campus.

 We then passed under the 'Century Tree', a massive live oak tree on the campus where Aggie  marriage proposals and weddings have occurred.  The traditions says that if a couple walks together under the Century Tree they will eventually marry, and the marriage will be everlasting! 

Notice the steel supports under the limbs of this over 100 year old Live Oak tree.

Drew and Dorothy DeHaes with Doreen

 We then headed just off campus to the Dixie Chicken bar, another Aggie tradition!  Supposedly this bar serves more beer per square foot than any other bar in the United States. 

 Ring dunking - old traditions here include dropping your Aggie ring in a pitcher of beer and drinking it down with the pitcher empty and your ring in your mouth!

Bottle cap alley!

Men's latrine.  Things are not always as they seem.  Read the signs!!  On a serious note, impromptu memorials on the walls to honor fallen Aggie military members and been preserved..

We had to partake in another Texas tradition - the Lone Star Beer!  Only available in Texas.

On the way back to the DeHaes residence we drove stopped at the Canteen Bar, part of the Cavalry Court, a social area near the campus.  There is a hotel, outdoor fire pit area, beautiful swimming pool and many other amenities. 

Across the street we walked past the George Hotel and this unique Texas State Flag made of over 10,000 colored books!  It is a tribute to Barbara Bush and her efforts to promote literacy through reading.

We headed back to the DeHaes residence and enjoyed a great evening with great friends, some great conversation and some fabulous steaks!  

Dorothy in her beautiful kitchen.

Grillin' and Lone Star - does not get much better than that!

Dorothy's creations for dessert!

It was so nice to see Drew and Dorothy DeHaes again!  They are special friends and their hospitality was over the top.  Drew is a 'grill meister' and his steaks melt in your mouth!  We are very thankful they were in town as we passed by on our journey across the country.  It is hard to describe the bonds that are developed as  military members and I am luck to have had the opportunity to serve under the leadership of Brig Gen Drew DeHaes.