History: A Tech Tradition

When the Whistle Blows is one of the Institute's newest traditions. Established in 2001, When the Whistle Blows honors the memory of those enrolled students or employees of the Institute who have died during the previous year.

The ceremony is steeped in the richest of Georgia Tech traditions. The Ramblin' Wreck, a 1930 Model A Ford and the Institute's first official mascot, leads families from the Hill down to the west side of Tech Tower. Members of the Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC units serve as escorts for the families, as Georgia Tech was one of the first schools in the nation to have a Reserved Officers Training Corps program. A unity candle is lit, representing the Georgia Tech community—more than 20,000 students, staff, faculty, and administrators who compromise the Institute. The Alma Mater reminds us of our Tech ancestry and relays the hope that we will always be united as a community.

The Whistle originated in the late 1800s at the time of Lyman hall, the second president of Georgia Tech. The sound of Tech's steam whistle resounded throughout Atlanta, becoming not only a landmark for the Institute, but also a timepiece for the surrounding community. Throughout the decades, the Whistle continued to keep time, whether calling students to the classroom or celebrating a football victory. Today, as in years past, the sound of the Whistle always marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of something new. It remains a deeply engrained tradition unique to Georgia Tech, and we proudly remember those who are no longer with us by a salute from the Whistle. After the Whistle is blown for each of the community members who have died over the last year, a final blast from the Whistle memorializes all extended members of our campus community who have died (alumni, noncurrent faculty and staff, and friends of the Institute).

Nothing can replace the joy that a loved one or cherished friend brings to our lives. By honoring and celebrating the memory of those who have gone before us, we can attempt to heal and grow stronger together.

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