January Muster

Introductory note, for January only:
Texas A & M University has the annual "Aggie Muster", where a living, breathing Aggie answers 'here' for an Aggie who has died in the past year, until the roll is completely called. The tradition, borne of the school's early military roots, dictates that all lights in campus classrooms be turned off in honor of the dead while muster is held. The college had schooled many of the Marines who died on Iwo Jima. The Aggie Muster ceremony is considered sacred and that particular year's Muster is a hallowed one in Aggie memory.

After last year's terrible number of law enforcement deaths, I determined to pay attention all this year. The Muster is the tradition I know that seems both the least and most sentimental, the simplest and most dignified. You can count them present in the privacy of your thoughts if you so desire.

January Muster
In the United States, we lost fifteen law enforcement officers this month.  To honor their service:

--Tommy Bishop Jr.--John Bernard--Stanley Cooper--
--Josie Fox--James Szuba--Alfred Celestain--
--Duane Dalton--Craig Story--Paul Richey--
Chad Reed--James Anderson--Christopher Milito--
Jill Mattice--Carl Worley--Eric Shuhandler--

Please go to the Officers Down Memorial Page to read more about the many who have died in the line of duty.