Tarleton Founder’s Week includes May Fête, Silver Taps Ceremony

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STEPHENVILLE (April 11, 2016) — Founder’s Week—honoring Tarleton State University founder John Tarleton—takes place this week with a number of events, from fun to solemn.

Hosted by the Tarleton Ambassadors, the annual May Fête Celebration begins at 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, near the Hunewell Bandstand in Heritage Oaks Park. Tarleton’s first May Fête took place May 5, 1921.

Student Josh Dempsey will serve as Lord Tarleton and master of ceremonies for this year’s May Fête Celebration and will lead in wrapping the Maypole with brightly colored ribbons. The 2016 May Fête court will lead the procession to the Maypole. Court members are Maggie Wright, Jacki Miller, Allison Newcomer, Brittany Green, Marissa Waldon and Marina Gonzalez.

Tarleton State University will observe Founder's Week, April 11-15, with several events, including (left) the annual May Fête Celebration and Silver Taps Ceremony.
Tarleton State University will observe Founder’s Week, April 11-15, with several events, including (left) the annual May Fête Celebration and Silver Taps Ceremony.

On Wednesday, April 13, the Student Government Association hosts a Grassburr Festival and picnic at Heritage Oaks Park and the Hunewell Bandstand from 5 to 8 p.m. Mr. and Ms. TSU will be announced at approximately 5:45 p.m. The event includes live music by Davis Danziger, Jesse Rasanen and Thomas Napp, plus a live remote broadcast with KXTR 100.7 FM The Planet and DJ James Segura.

The Grassburr Festival, which marks the 100th year of Tarleton’s student yearbook (first published in 1916), offers guests free food, snow cones and prizes, plus free T-shirts to the first 250 people who attend.

Founder’s Week continues with the annual Silver Taps ceremony in Heritage Oaks Park and Col. Tate Military Park on Thursday, April 14. The event, hosted by the Tarleton Ambassadors, Tarleton ROTC, the Division of Advancement and External Relations and the Tarleton Alumni Association, begins at 7 p.m. with a reception at the Alumni Plaza followed by the Silver Taps ceremony at 7:30 p.m.

Silver Taps honors faculty, staff, students and alumni who passed away during the previous year. A roll call of 280 names is read aloud, and students and family members carry candles in a procession from the Hunewell Bandstand to the Tarleton Military Memorial.

For more information about all the events, visit http://www.tarleton.edu/foundersweek.

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