Aggie Muster is one of our most cherished traditions at Texas A&M. Dating back over a century, Muster is our way of honoring current and former students who, while they can no longer be with us in body, remain with us in spirit. Aggie Muster is an affirmation of the Aggie Spirit that will always be present in members of our Aggie Family. Muster celebrates the lives that these Aggies lived and the lives that they touched.

A Muster Host offers support to loved ones of the Aggies honored at Aggie Muster. They have the unique opportunity to impact those attending the campus Muster ceremony and escort the families of those being honored. Hosts volunteer their time to promote and take part in Muster, and work closely with the Aggie Muster Committee. Chris Wainerdi, who is a former Host and now a Host Coordinator, shared a little bit about his experience and how it impacted him:

—

I love small talk, and you probably already know it. I’m that annoying customer in the line at Starbucks who can’t help but distract you from deciding between a double or triple shot of espresso. But, the night of my first Muster ceremony as a Host, I worried what I would say to my family.

For the week leading up to Muster, I spent most of my time in the Flag Room, learning and studying the Reflections Display. What I didn’t know was how helpful my study session would be when meeting my family.

I recognized the surname of my family from one of the displays and offered my favorite tidbit from the life of their loved one (which happened to be his undying love for Whataburger). Their laugh was contagious and our connection was instantaneous. The rest of the night was spent celebrating his life and recounting similarly hilarious memories.  

As a Host, I was prepared to match the emotions of a grieving family, but the Muster experience is different for everyone. Whether it’s through celebration or empathy, it’s a Host’s job to possess the emotional intelligence required to match the experience of their family. But maybe reading the Reflections Display and apparently eating Whataburger should be added to the job description.

—
Muster Host informationals are this week, and we cannot wait to meet those that choose to apply to the Host Program. You must attend one informational in order to apply, and applications are due on Feb. 10. Please send any questions to [email protected], or go to muster.tamu.edu for more information.