I completely understand and respect your efforts to bring back bonfire and do your part to bring back Old Army and much of the traditions and camraderie that has been lost with the absence of Bonfire. I respect your cause and the efforts you are putting forth toward that cause - whether it be one that others support or not, your efforts are well-intentioned.
However, I also want to express my disappointment. For people so "passionate" about bringing this tradition back, you should also take the time to know why it isn't around to know those who came before you. You should have known what day it was. I would have hoped you would have had the decency and respect for those who died and those who lost friends and loved ones, to not act the way you did last night in the Chicken. I would have hoped you would have let those who came before you have that night to remember their friends and loved ones.
Last night wasn't the night to be the "big bonfire man on campus". Last night wasn't the night to act like you knew what happened, to act like you were there, to act like you knew it all. Last night was a night to let those who did, grieve and remember in their own way. Last night was a night to let them "have a beer with those they lost". Last night was a night to learn from those who really did know, who really were there, who rode stack down, who stood over their friends in the hospital hoping that they'd make it, who made it, who lost friends and loved ones, who cried, who mourned. Last night was a night to show some respect to those who made Bonfire what it was.
Again, I respect your efforts, and I know you all are doing the best you can to preserve a tradition that added so much to our University with the limited knowledge that you have. I only caution you in the future to be respectful, if of nothing else, of that day, and let those who were there have that day.
The pain is still just as real today to many of those that were there as it was that early November morning. Let them have that day to remember....
Always remember, Never Forget
November 18.1999
[This message has been edited by Redass2oo2 (edited 11/19/2006 3:41p).]
[This message has been edited by Redass2oo2 (edited 11/19/2006 3:47p).]
However, I also want to express my disappointment. For people so "passionate" about bringing this tradition back, you should also take the time to know why it isn't around to know those who came before you. You should have known what day it was. I would have hoped you would have had the decency and respect for those who died and those who lost friends and loved ones, to not act the way you did last night in the Chicken. I would have hoped you would have let those who came before you have that night to remember their friends and loved ones.
Last night wasn't the night to be the "big bonfire man on campus". Last night wasn't the night to act like you knew what happened, to act like you were there, to act like you knew it all. Last night was a night to let those who did, grieve and remember in their own way. Last night was a night to let them "have a beer with those they lost". Last night was a night to learn from those who really did know, who really were there, who rode stack down, who stood over their friends in the hospital hoping that they'd make it, who made it, who lost friends and loved ones, who cried, who mourned. Last night was a night to show some respect to those who made Bonfire what it was.
Again, I respect your efforts, and I know you all are doing the best you can to preserve a tradition that added so much to our University with the limited knowledge that you have. I only caution you in the future to be respectful, if of nothing else, of that day, and let those who were there have that day.
The pain is still just as real today to many of those that were there as it was that early November morning. Let them have that day to remember....
Always remember, Never Forget
November 18.1999
[This message has been edited by Redass2oo2 (edited 11/19/2006 3:41p).]
[This message has been edited by Redass2oo2 (edited 11/19/2006 3:47p).]