In 2006, Francesca Adler-Baeder, associate professor in human development and family studies, was invited to tell the "War Eagle" story to incoming freshmen. The response to Adler-Baeder's reading was so positive, she was encouraged to publish the story as a book called "The War Eagle Story."
"The story of the 'War Eagle' cheer brings a sense of entitlement to each member of the Auburn family," said Justin Pitts, junior in chemical engineering and head Camp War Eagle counselor.
"We share a piece of history with one another. It's important for a freshman to hear (War Eagle), because it's like a final welcoming into the Auburn family. It's the last piece of the puzzle to becoming an Auburn student."
Adler-Baeder began writing her story weeks before she read it in front of Camp War Eagle.
"In my spare time in the evenings, I started writing it out," Adler-Baeder said. "It is all written in verse or rhyme. Writing it didn't take long because the story itself had great characters."
For the reading, Adler-Baeder chose the most popular version of the story involving a civil war veteran.
"I was surprised no one had ever put the story into written form because it is one of our most popular oral histories," Adler-Baeder said. "I wanted it to be lyrical and easy to read as well as listen to."
When the day came to read her story, Adler-Baeder sat on stage in a rocking chair, with the cheerleaders and Aubie behind her to lead the "War Eagle" cheer.
Tiffany Everett, Auburn native and student at Savannah College of Art and Design, was chosen to illustrate Adler-Baeder's version of the "War Eagle" story.
"I think a book like 'The War Eagle Story' was long overdue," Everett said.
"There are several stories out there about why we shout 'War Eagle,' but few people know that this version of the story is the most credible."
Because this version of the "War Eagle" story was written as a children's book, Everett was given the artistic freedom to use vivid colors, simplified shapes and exaggerated facial expressions.
"My favorite thing about illustrating children's books is how it lends itself to art that is bright, colorful and, well, childlike," Everett said. "'The War Eagle Story' allowed me to embrace those same principles."
Everett said the illustrating process opened her eyes to just how hard it is to illustrate a children's book in a short period of time.
"I love children's illustrations and I collect storybooks, but I never gave much consideration to how time-consuming it really is to illustrate a standard 32-page story," Everett said.
"I was on a tight deadline, illustrating one to two pages per day. I learned that doing a seemingly simple illustration can take hours upon hours of preparation between conceptualizing, researching, measuring, composing, drawing, painting, drying and finalizing."
Most importantly though, Everett said she found the illustrating process to be extremely rewarding experience and hopes to do more in the future.
The authors decided some of the proceeds would be donated to benefit the Auburn University Center for Children, Youth and Families, as well as outreach and student scholarships.
"The donation is important because we felt very strongly that the story belongs to Auburn," Adler-Baeder said.
"We framed it in a way that hopefully makes it an entertaining delivery, but the story itself belongs to Auburn."
Adler-Baeder said her main goal was to provide a way for families to share the cherished "War Eagle" story.
"I have been hearing from lots of different people of all ages who would like to share it with friends and grandchildren," Adler-Baeder said.
"The experience was nothing but enjoyment. It has been one of the highlights of my experiences here at Auburn, and to share the enthusiasm, the story and the joy was magical."
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