21 years later, pain of Aggie Bonfire collapse remains

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KTRK) -- Hundreds gathered on the campus of Texas A&M University early Wednesday to remember the 12 people who died when Aggie Bonfire collapsed 21 years ago.

The tradition of Aggie Bonfire burned for more than 90 years, but that all changed on Nov. 18, 1999, when the bonfire structure collapsed, killing 11 students, one former student, and injuring 27 others.

It happened in the middle of the night, at 2:42 a.m.

A ceremony was held Wednesday morning to mark that exact moment. Students were asked to wear masks and maintain their distance at the Bonfire Memorial, which was built on the site of the collapse.

SEE ALSO: 20th anniversary of the Aggie bonfire tragedy

WATCH: Complete Aggie Bonfire remembrance ceremony

For 90 years, Aggies gathered together to burn the bonfire. Now, Aggies gather to remember the 12 who died in 1999.

In 1999, fifty-seven Aggies were building the stack of logs that were to be burned when someone heard a crack, and it collapsed.

First responders from across the region responded to the scene. As the sun came up that day, even the Aggie football team showed up to help move logs.

Here is a list of the fallen Aggies:

Miranda Denise Adams

Santa Fe, Texas

Sophomore

Biomedical Science Major

'02

Christopher D. Breen

Austin, Texas

Graduate

'96

Michael Stephen Ebanks

Carrollton, TX

Freshman

Aerospace Engineering Major

'03

Jeremy Richard Frampton

Turlock, CA

Senior

Psychology Major

'99

Company D-1

Jamie Lynn Hand

Henderson, TX

Freshman

Environmental Design Major

'03

Christopher Lee Heard

Houston, TX

Freshman

Pre Engineering Major

Company K-2

'03

Timothy Doran Kerlee, Jr

Bartlett, TN

Sophomore

Mechanical Engineering Major

Squadron 16

'03

Lucas John Kimmel

Corpus Christi, TX

Freshman

Biomed. Science Major

Company D-2

'03

Bryan A. McClain

San Antonio, TX

Freshman

Agriculture Major

Squadron 2

'02

Chad A. Powell

Keller, TX

Sophomore

Computer Engineering Major

'03

Jerry Don Self

Arlington, TX

Junior

Engineering Technology Major

Squadron 17

'01

Watch:Tom Abrahams, ABC13 reporter, reflects on covering the bonfire stack collapse.

Nathan Scott West

Bellaire, TX

Sophomore

Ocean Engineering Major

Company C-2

'02

Looking back at the Texas A&M Bonfire collapse 20 years later