It claimed 12 lives, changed countless others and forever altered a Texas A&M tradition. Ten years ago the 1999 bonfire collapsed.

Tuesday evening the Aggie community gathered at Reed Arena to mark the solemn anniversary and remember 12 students who never came home.

Richard West spoke on behalf of the families who lost a child in the bonfire collapse.

"I sat and struggled with this composition as memories rolled past my eyes, too many to squeeze into a short speech," said West.

West's son Nathan was a sophomore working on bonfire. He recalled the last time he heard his son's voice.

"'Hi dad it's me Scott,' said West. "I always smiled at that, who else called at ten 'o' clock at night and called me dad. 'Are you still coming up to bonfire? I'll call you again and we can set it up. Bonfire is going to be really great this year. Gotta go, bye.'"

Around 5,000 people filled Reed Arena, all urged by West and former student body president Will Hurd to move forward.

"We have felt your absence over the past 10 years. We have missed you, we have mourned for you, we have tried to live our lives as you would have wanted us to live yours. You have left your mark not only on Texas A&M, but on the world. Tonight we celebrate your lives and we will carry the memories of all of you with us forever," said Hurd.

The service ten years in the making ended the same way it began: to the sounds of the Texas A&M Singing Cadets.