Muster Camaraderie BBQ Set For April 21

Texas A&M University’s popular Muster Camaraderie BBQ will be held April 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Rudder Plaza on campus.

The free event is sponsored by the Aggie Muster Committee. Organizers stress that COVID-19 safety guidelines will be enforced, and participants will be required to wear a face mask and maintain social distancing procedures.

“The Aggie Muster Camaraderie BBQ is usually one of the more lively, celebratory components of Aggie Muster Day,” said Greg Fink, student affairs coordinator and Aggie Muster Committee Advisor. “Each year as the 50^th class year reunion progresses, there is an integrative moment where the reunion class celebrates the Aggie community with the current student body. The concept of ‘camaraderie’ influences the celebration as past and future worlds collide through stories and good barbeque.”

Due to safety precautions, he said, this year’s class reunion was postponed. Fink added that The Aggie Muster Committee believed they could continue the tradition this year though a creative, more community-oriented way to bring camaraderie and barbecue to students, faculty and staff.

“With funds repurposed due to COVID, we can now infuse economic support to those acutely impacted by the pandemic,” he said. “We can certainly lift our local barbecue restaurant businesses though trying times. Thus, the Aggie Muster Committee bought meals from several local restaurants to distribute back to their students, faculty and staff. It’s not about giving back to our local community, but rather to lift and celebrate them. That is the spirit of camaraderie we like to celebrate.”

More than 1,000 prepaid meal vouchers will be distributed for restaurants such as Smoke Daddies, Boomtown BBQ Company, Martin’s Place, All the King’s Men and J. Cody’s.

“Along with the Aggie Muster Committee, you can participate in games, pictures with Reveille and Yell Leaders, and collect free local barbecue,” Fink said.  “All are asked to activate your voucher upon receipt and to use within two months.”

This year’s Muster is a hybrid event including tributes throughout the day, starting with a flag-raising ceremony with the Corps of Cadets, reflections displays memorializing those honored on the campus Roll Call for the Absent, the Camaraderie BBQ, and finishing with a ceremony for community members to answer “here” as names from the campus roll call are announced.