Reflecting On Service, Sacrifice This Fourth of July

M. Katherine Banks
President

July 2, 2021

Two hundred and forty-five years ago, our founders signed the Declaration of Independence. More than a defining moment in our history, it stands as a symbol of sacrifice. Every person who signed the document understood they were placing their lives on the line so that future generations might live with liberty.

Each year, on the Fourth of July, many of us think of the long history of service and sacrifice by our men and women in uniform. More than a century ago, in Texas A&M’s 1920 yearbook, there is a special dedication to the many bold and brave Aggies who served in World War I.

The dedication notes that, “The New York Times declared that the A&M College of Texas had a larger participation in the war in proportion to its enrollment than any other educational institution in the United States.”

Over more than a century, much has changed for our nation and our university. But the sense of service and sacrifice remains at Texas A&M. For more than a year, many of you – in ways both large and small – have made sacrifices of your own. You have adjusted your lives and your work schedules to ensure that our important mission of education and research continued during very challenging times. For all of your efforts, I am deeply grateful.

As we celebrate the Fourth of July, let us remember the enduring Aggie spirit of service and sacrifice that has long preserved our university, enhanced our state and enriched our nation whose independence we honor and observe this weekend. And in that same spirit, let us work together to forge the future.

Sincerely,

Katherine Banks
President
Texas A&M University