Donald Coward Letter Memorial

Donald Coward Letter Memorial. . , Fish Donald Coward ’72, his CO John W. Groves ’69, and George W. Reynolds ’72 were killed in an auto accident when traveling to a Dallas Corps trip in the fall of 1968. Just three weeks prior, Donald had written a letter to his parents reflecting on his impressions of attending his first Silver Taps and what it means to be an Aggie. Since the year 2000, the letter has been read to incoming freshmen during Fish Camp to explain one of Texas A&M’s most revered traditions. , [Letter addressed to: Mom and Pop Coward, 1114 Timbergrove, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78410] , Dear Mom and Dad, , Right now it's 11:00 and Call to Quarters is over, I should be in bed, but there's something I have to tell you both first. I'm sitting here at my desk with tears in my eyes and thinking more about life itself than I ever had before. I'm not crying because of all the hell I'm going through - but rather because I've experienced tonight what A&M is all about. , Mother and Dad we're one big family up here and now I know what it means to be an Aggie. Tonight was "Silver Taps." In case you don't know what that is, I'm going to tell you and you've got to listen. Anytime a student here loses his life - no matter how - on an assigned date soon afterwards we have what you call Silver Taps. , Everyone puts on civilian clothes and goes to the Quad in front of the administrative building and stands around a flagpole on which all the names of students from A&M who died while attending school here are listed. No one says a word from 7:30 at night until the next day. All is quiet and all the lights on campus are turned off. You have to put blankets up over your windows and even the coke machine lights are covered. , The whole campus is a blanket of darkness. Then at 10:30 while everyone is at the Quad, a firing team fires a 21 gun salute in honor of those who died and the buglers play Taps and it's over. Tonight I experienced one of the most solemn feelings I've ever had and feel so good inside. , Mom, Dad it was just like God Himself was there with us. Well I guess you're wishing I would grow up and quit coming on like this, over Silver Taps - but it was so, hell I can't even tell you how it was, there's nothing else like it. Well I've got to go now, it's late and I need the sleep. Y'all be careful and I love you both. , D.C.