In 2004, when my beloved next door neighbor of nearly two years moved out of our complex, I was devastated. But soon, I found out I had a very kind, new, next door neighbor. He was from Nepal and in exchange for me taking him to the grocery story, he would cook Nepalese food for me, with lots of cilantro, just the way I lik(ed) it. (Thank you, Reflux.)
My new neighbor was a graduate student, and not only was he new to Auburn, he was new to the South. He had completed his undergrad in Washington state (or Oregon, somewhere in the Northwest), so I relished explaining to him Southern culture.
One afternoon, we passed each other on the landing we shared, outside our apartments.
"What is this wa-yr eagle I keep hearing?" He asked me. I loved that I was someone he could go to for the right answers about this kind of stuff.
I thought for a moment how to best describe "this wa-yr eagle" business to him. "War Eagle has two purposes. At games, you say, 'Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar Eagle!' as a cheer for the team, and around campus, or wherever you may be, you say, 'War Eagle' to fellow Auburn people, like a greeting."
"I see."
I tell him the story of the Civil War vet who brought his pet eagle to a game, and how the eagle broke loose and circled the stadium, and how we Auburn fans believe that eagle led us to victory that day, and how at the end of the game, that eagle plummeted to the ground and passed away. (I can't bear to say the other word.)
Ever since, we Auburn people use the phrase, "War Eagle!" as a greeting and a cheer for our beloved Auburn Tigers.
"So, that really happened?"
"No duh it really happened!"
He looked a bit bewildered.
"I mean, yes. Yes, the story is true."
War Eagle, Auburn fans.
