Title: Reveille X’s Courage: A Mascot’s Legacy Lives On
In the heart of College Station, a somber hush fell over Aggieland as news spread: Reveille X, the beloved First Lady of Texas A&M University, had undergone surgery to remove her right eye following a sudden diagnosis of ocular melanoma. The twelve-year-old American Rough Collie, revered not only as a living symbol of Aggie spirit but also as a cherished companion of the Corps of Cadets, had faced the fight of her life — and prevailed.
The diagnosis came during a routine veterinary examination just weeks after her ceremonial retirement announcement. Reveille X, affectionately known as “Miss Rev,” had shown subtle signs of discomfort — a slight droop in her eyelid, an unusual squint — that prompted further testing. A biopsy confirmed what no one had expected: an aggressive but localized cancer was growing behind her bright, expressive eye.
University veterinarians, in partnership with the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine, made the difficult but necessary decision. Within 48 hours, a surgical team specializing in canine oncology performed a delicate enucleation procedure. The operation was a success. As the anesthesia wore off, Miss Rev stirred in her recovery bed, surrounded by the familiar scents of maroon blankets and the gentle hands of her student caretakers.
Despite the gravity of the surgery, Reveille’s spirit remained unbroken. The very next morning, she wagged her tail as her primary handler, Cadet Corporal Jamie Reyes, whispered the same words she’d heard every morning since joining the Corps: “Reveille, it’s time to wake up.” With a slow, proud rise, she stood — one eye down, but her soul unwavering.
The Texas A&M community rallied. Messages poured in from alumni, students, faculty, and fans, offering prayers, tributes, and memories of encounters with Reveille over the years. During a special twilight ceremony on Simpson Drill Field, thousands gathered — candles in hand, maroon shirts pressed to their hearts — to celebrate her recovery. A lone bugler played “Silver Taps,” not as a farewell, but as a reverent honor to her bravery.
President Mark A. Welsh III issued a statement: “Reveille X has stood as more than a mascot — she is tradition made flesh, loyalty in motion. Her courage through this challenge has reminded us all what it means to be an Aggie: to persevere with dignity and strength.”
Though officially retired, Reveille X will continue to live on campus, adored and pampered, while Reveille XI prepares to step into her pawprints. But even with a new face on the field, Aggies know: there’s only one Miss Rev X, the dog who gave Aggieland twelve years of pride — and showed the world how a mascot becomes a legend, even with just one eye.
Her story is not one of loss, but of legacy.
