Texas A&M has announced the funeral of Reveille VIII the collie for Thursday, August 30.
Reveille the collie is known nationwide as the mascot of Texas A&M University, most notably seen on the sidelines during football season, cheering on the Aggies as when Southeastern Conference foes come to College Station.
Reveille VIII died in late June at the age of 12, and according to the campus newspaper Texas A&M Today, her funeral has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 30 at the Zone Plaza at Kyle Field.
“Reveille VIII is more than just a dog, or even a mascot. She’s a lady, a former student, a loyal companion, and a perfect representation of why Texas A&M is so great,” her handler Ryan Kreider told Texas A&M Today. “She was truly a part of my family, and I’m forever grateful to have held the honor of serving as her handler.”
The service will be open current and former students, faculty, and staff, in addition to being open to the public.
The Aggies will host Northwestern (La.) State that night at 7:30 p.m. in their season opener.
Reveille VIII was from Topeka, Kan., and served officially from 2008-2015.
“She had a disease that involved her liver, her spleen, and many of her muscles,” associate professor of small animal internal medicine Dr. Kate Creevy told the campus newspaper. “We could see this was a source of pain for her and not something that we wanted to ask her to fight.”
The current Reveille, Reveille IX, is from near Cleveland, Ohio, and has been serving in the role of “First Lady of Aggieland” since May 2015.
The original Reveille came to the university in 1931 and was named a Cadet General during World War II. The third Reveille was the first Collie to hold the role, and every Reveille since has been of the breed. All nine Reveilles have been females.
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