COLLEGE STATION, Texas – A service was held Thursday at Kyle Field to remember the late Texas A&M collie mascot Reveille VIII.
Organizers said Reveille VIII will be laid to rest 10 years to the day from her debut as mascot. The revered 12-year-old dog had been ill and died June 25.
"She is a living and breathing representation of Texas A&M and the core values that we hold," said Ryan Kreider, who was Reveille VIII's handler when he was a cadet at A&M.
"If you're a former student or a current student, or you've ever been affiliated with A&M at all, you know Miss Reveille Ma'am," said Aggie mother and alum, Glynna Leiper.
PHOTOS: Reveille VIII all over Texas A&M campus
The former "First Lady of Aggieland," embodied loyalty, unity and tradition. She was the former mascot who served from 2008-2015.
"Today we say goodbye to Reveille VIII here at Kyle Field, an appropriate place, where we know they can follow the game with their own scoreboard," said University President Michael Young.
VIDEO: Memorial service held for Reveille VIII
Young, vice president of student affairs Daniel Pugh, representatives from the Stevenson Companion Animal Life Care Center - where Reveille VIII received care after falling ill - and two of the dog's handlers, Kreider and John Busch, spoke at the memorial service outside of Kyle Field.
In 2014, Kreider deflected an SMU wide receiver from the dog. Kreider threw himself in front of the out-of-bounds player. A&M went on to win that game 58-6.
"It's a testament to what Reveille means to us and the tradition and the loyalty that we have," Kreider said.
Even '06 alum Kristen Speights traveled with her husband from Houston to see the service.
"This is part of our tradition," Speights said.
Speights brought her own Collie, Aria.
"I wanted a baby Rev so I got a baby Rev," Speights said. "It was an opportunity to pay her respects to her 'She-ro.'"
"I skipped class to come to Reveille VIII's funeral, because Reveille is a very important part of me," said junior Blake Clark.
Clark asked Young to excuse him for his absence. Young wrote the letter.
"I asked him and he actually gave me an excused absence," Clark said. "She represents everybody, and we lost a family member today."
Reveille VIII was laid to rest with her predecessors on the north side of Kyle Field.
The Aggies host Northwestern State on Thursday night.