Parsons Mounted Cavalry

PMC Cadets Speak At Waco Muster

April 28, 2023 by rnelson

Each year, on the anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto, April 21st, Aggies around the globe gather to honor those lost during the year at Muster. A time to reflect on one’s time in Aggieland, Muster annually serves as Texas A&M’s most visible celebration of the Aggie family.

This year, four cadets in Parsons Mounted Cavalry (PMC) traveled to Waco, Texas to serve as speakers at the Greater Waco A&M Club’s Muster ceremony.

“I had the honor of being one of the speakers for the Waco Muster. Parsons Mounted Cavalry was asked to come down and speak about PMC and what it means to be a member of the Corps of Cadets. To me, Muster is the epitome of Aggie tradition. It shows that the university and the Aggie family don’t just view you as a number,” Mason Doige ‘24 said.

Mason views his participation in Waco’s Muster ceremony as a representation of the Corps’ unwavering dedication to all of Texas A&M’s cherished traditions.

“Being a cadet means you are a Guardian of Tradition and a Keeper of the Spirit. We are at the forefront of Texas A&M. We participate in every tradition, whether it’s through simple attendance or through active participation, like in Silver Taps and Muster. While many non-cadets may not participate in these traditions or attend only some, members of the Corps attend all of them. If no one else attended these traditions, there would still be a guaranteed 2,000 cadets there, and that means a lot to me.”

Though their participation in this Muster ceremony looked a bit different from the on-campus iteration, cadets who traveled to the Waco Muster were able to witness another side of the tradition.

“Since this was my first off-campus Muster, I got to see the Aggie Spirit outside of College Station. I realized that the Aggie Spirit is just as strong off-campus as it is on, and I found comfort in knowing that one day I would reconnect with my buddies to honor our own. Muster encourages company and cheer in times of grief. Muster reminds us that we are not alone, wherever we may be after our time at A&M,” Caroline Sauter ‘23 said.

Though Muster ceremonies may vary based on location, the camaraderie is ever present across each of them. From College Station to Corregidor, the Aggie family will continue to meet each year on April 21st to honor our fallen, and the Corps of Cadets will continue to be a cornerstone of this event.

Story By: Robin Nelson ’22

Shelby Osborne ’23

April 5, 2023 by rnelson

Hometown: Marion, Texas

Major: Psychology

Outfit: Squadron 20

A member of Squadron 20, Shelby Osborne ’23 currently serves as the outfit’s Athletics Officer.

On the Quad, Shelby is a member of Parsons Mounted Cavalry, where she also serves as the special unit’s Executive Officer.

Off the Quad, Shelby is a student worker with Texas A&M’s Technology Services. In her free time, Shelby enjoys painting, reading and spending time with her family and friends.

“My dad always talked about how important it is to understand differences you can see in a group of people you work with. A thing he often said was, ‘You don’t have to have the best idea in the room, but instead know how to work with those around you to find it.’ This quote got me through a lot in the Corps. Everyone has an idea on how to best solve issues in leadership, so learning to work with my peers to find the best solution has helped me along the way,” Shelby said of her experience with the Corps of Cadets.

After graduation, Shelby plans to attend the University of Texas’ Health and Science School in San Antonio with hopes of one day becoming a nurse.

Cora Schell ’23

March 22, 2023 by rnelson

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Major: Animal Science

Outfit: B-Battery

Cora Schell ’23 is a member of B-Battery in the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.

On the Quad, Cora is involved in Parsons Mounted Cavalry, where she serves as the special unit’s Veterinary Officer. Cora represented Parsons Mounted Cavalry, the Corps of Cadets and Texas A&M in a color guard unit during the grand entry of the San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo this spring.

Off the Quad, Cora has been a member of the animal welfare judging team since her freshman year. Cora also assists with research in the Animal Science department, where she helps train dogs to detect disease in cattle. In addition to her research, Cora works part-time at Steep Hollow Pet Lodge.

After graduation, Cora plans to attend graduate school, where she hopes to obtain her master’s. After receiving her master’s, Cora hopes to attend Texas A&M’s Veterinary School.

Parsons Mounted Cavalry Remembers Bonfire

November 18, 2022 by rnelson

On Nov. 18, 1999, tragedy struck Aggieland when the annual Bonfire stack collapsed, killing 11 current students and one former. For just over two decades, Aggies from all corners of the world have come together on the anniversary of the tragedy to remember the twelve that were lost.

This year, for the 23rd anniversary, additional memorial efforts were made to honor the fallen. For the first time ever at Midnight Yell, Parsons Mounted Cavalry brought two additional cannons to Kyle Field for a special 12-shot volley demonstration.

“Due to this year’s Bonfire Remembrance Ceremony falling on the same night as Midnight Yell, the Texas A&M Traditions Council proposed we make a special addition to Midnight Yell. Working with Traditions Council and the Yell Leaders, we decided that Parsons Mounted Cavalry would perform a 12-shot volley from two of our artillery pieces in honor of the twelve victims. This is the first artillery commemoration of the tragedy since November 25, 1999, when the victims were first honored,” Luke Jenkins ‘23, Commanding Officer of Parsons Mounted Cavalry, said.

As Parsons Mounted Cavalry prepared for these special efforts, Cole Swinnea ‘23, PMC’s Section Chief, said that it reminded him of the strength of the Aggie family.

“Being able to honor the twelve victims, even after 23 years, embodies what it means to be an Aggie and a part of the Aggie family. Even though they are no longer with us, their spirit and what they did for Texas A&M still remains in our hearts and minds. No university in the nation does something like this to honor fallen students, and I feel honored to attend a school that takes such pride in preserving traditions like bonfire remembrance and historic sites like the Bonfire Memorial. It humbles me to be able to be a part of something so great.”

Of the victims, two-thirds were members of the Corps of Cadets, an organization that had been deeply embedded in the building of Bonfire since its start. As he reflected on the stories of the fallen, Swinnea said there is one name in particular that stands out to him.

“One of the victims of the Bonfire stack collapse was Christopher Lee Heard ’03. He passed away as a freshman in Company K-2, the same outfit that I am from. He attended high school at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas, which is also my hometown,” Swinnea said. “These small similarities have made me realize that life can be taken away at any moment in time, even as a freshman in the Corps, so you should really cherish those around you and value your interactions and time spent with them.”

Though 23 years have passed, the memory of the 12 victims has not faded for the Texas A&M community.

“Bonfire is a somber tradition. However, we should remember the fallen for who they were as people and what they stood for while attending this university. We should rejoice that we were able to know them as people, to know them through their stories and life experiences. It’s important to remember and commemorate past Aggies for what they did for the university during their time here, no matter how long ago it was. Once you become an Aggie, you join a family whose bonds can’t be broken,” Jenkins said.

No matter how many years have passed, Aggies of the past, present and future will come together to remember the twelve young lives that were lost on Nov. 18, 1999. Their embodiment of the Aggie Spirit lives on within each of us, and is something that Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets will strive to remember for many generations to come.

In memory of:

Miranda Denise Adams ‘02, Christopher D. Breen ‘96, Michael Stephen Ebanks ‘03, Jeremy Richard Frampton ‘99, Jamie Lynn Hand ‘03, Christopher Lee Heard ‘03, Timothy Doran Kerlee, Jr ‘03, Lucas John Kimmel ‘03, Bryan A. McClain ‘02, Chad A. Powell ‘03, Jerry Don Self ‘01, Nathan Scott West ‘02.

Here.

Story by: Robin Nelson '22

Caroline Sauter ’23

November 16, 2022 by rnelson

Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana

Major: Civil Engineering

Outfit: Company E-2

The current Public Relations, Recruiting and Finance Officer for Second Regiment, Caroline Sauter ’23 is originally from Company E-2. During her sophomore year in E-2, Caroline served as the second handler to Miss Reveille.

In addition to her work with Second Regiment, Caroline is a member of Parsons Mounted Cavalry, where she serves as the Sophomore Training Officer. In this role, Caroline works to prepare the Class of 2025 to be confident in their skills and become a part of something greater than themselves.

“The Corps has given me many opportunities to develop my leadership throughout each class year and at the outfit, major unit, and special unit levels. I can see the lessons that I have learned directly relate to what I will be experiencing in the workforce, and I am confident that I will be able to overcome and learn from any situation thrown my way. I am proud to be a member of the Corps of Cadets because of all that it has done to help me set, maintain and achieve my goals,” Caroline said of her time in the Corps.

After graduation, Caroline plans to work for a Civil Engineering firm and obtain her Practice of Engineering Certificate.