19 Jan 2019 - Last Day at College Station - Bonfire Memorial, George H.W. Bush Presidential Library

19 Jan 2019
Cool and windy morning but no rain today.  Our last day in College Station and we wanted to visit the A&M Bonfire Memorial and the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum before we left.  Doreen did some checking and due to the partial Government shutdown, the library and museum were closed, but the atrium and gift shop were open as was the burial site.

The Bonfire Memorial
The Texas A&M University had a century long history of a bonfire that represented their 'burning desire' to beat the University of Texas in football.  The bonfire was a 'wedding cake' style, built from logs and full of tradition.  On November 18, 1999 at 2:42 am the huge stack of logs collapsed resulting in 12 dead and 27 injured.  This memorial was built to memorialize those Aggies that lost their lives and were injured. 

As we walked from the parking lot to the site, we passed the 'Tradition Plaza' with a long spirit wall which includes a poem that was recited before the bonfire was lit.

As we turned the corner and headed towards the site, we walked along the the 'history walk'.  This walk is bordered with 89 granite blocks symbolizing the time span between the beginning and end of the bonfire.  We noticed a notch in one of the block, and it marks 1963, the only year they did not have a bonfire.  The entire stack was disassembled due to the assassination of President John F Kennedy.

At the end of the walk we arrived at the 'Spirit Ring' consisting of 27 granite blocks that represent those injured during the collapse in 1999.  The 12 doorways created with the blocks represent those who lost their lives that morning.  Each points towards the hometown of the student and has an engraved portrait, and some information about the student.

Finally, in the center of the ring is a round marker symbolizing the center pole of the bonfire and it is engraved with the date and time of the collapse.

The whole area was very moving.  I remember hearing or reading about the tragic event.  Texas A&M has done a great job of memorializing the tragedy and those who were injured or perished.

The George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

We moved on to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, knowing it was mostly inaccessible due to the partial Government shutdown.  It is a beautiful complex.

 

The Atrium area was open as was the gift shop

Doreen signing the memorial guest book

A beautiful painting of President Bush and his team in the Oval Office in the days leading up to Desert Storm.  

Entrance to the Museum and library closed.

Looking to the center ceiling of the Atrium.  

Doreen looked around the gift shop a bit and then we headed out to the grave site.  You walk behind the Library building, past a fishing pond.  It's catch and release with barbless hooks only.

 We then walked through a gate and down a peaceful pathway to the grave site. 

On the way back we noticed this inscription in the rear wall of the Library:

After returning to the RV we did our normal pre-departure prep and also placed the decal for Texas.

We've had a great time in College Station and tomorrow we head south through Houston to San Leon, a small town between Houston and Galveston.  Next report:  San Leon!