Navy to Participate in Mardi Gras 2012

NEW ORLEANS (NNS) -- Navy Recruiting District (NRD) New Orleans announced Jan. 13, it will participate in upcoming parades as part of Mardi Gras 2012.

Each year during the carnival season, the city of New Orleans and its surrounding areas coordinates more than 60 themed parades, attracting hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists from all over the United States.

This year, NRD New Orleans will be participating in the following parades:

- Cleopatra, Feb. 10, at 6:30 p.m.

- Pontchartrain, Feb. 11, at 2 p.m.

- Alla, Feb. 12, at 12 p.m.

- Ancient Druids, Feb. 15, at 6:30 p.m.

- Babylon, Feb. 16, at 5:45 p.m.

- Krewe d'Etat, Feb. 17, at 6 p.m.

- Endymion, Feb. 18, at 4:15 p.m.

- Bacchus, Feb. 19, at 5:15 p.m.

- Orpheus, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m.

- Rex, Feb. 21, at 10 a.m.


"With so many people attending parades during the carnival season, there is no other venue in our district that could provide as much Navy exposure as this," said Cmdr. David Weller, NRD New Orleans commanding officer. "Mardi Gras is at the core of this city's culture, and with the Navy's participation each year, we are very much a part of that culture."

NRD New Orleans Sailors participate in parades with the command's own float, a design inspired by USS Constitution, the Navy's oldest commissioned ship. Embarked on board the aft section of the float are members of Navy Band New Orleans, who provide live musical performances throughout each parade.

"The parades of Mardi Gras are something Navy Band New Orleans looks forward to each year," said Lt. Jane Hoffman, director of Navy Band New Orleans. "During the parades, the band plays an assortment of music - everything from traditional New Orleans brass band to rock-and-roll. The crowds love the performances, and we are happy to be able to provide them with musical entertainment again this year."

Also riding the float are local Navy recruiters, NRD New Orleans support personnel, and special guests who are often centers of influences (COI) in the community. These COI's consist of educators, coaches, or non-politically affiliated community leaders.

When the float is not in use, Sailors act as the float's curators, ensuring upkeep and maintenance is performed on a regular basis so that it is ready for the carnival season.

"Whether it is doing maintenance on the generator, electrical wiring, providing carpentry and artistic repairs, everybody from the skipper [commanding officer] to the most junior Sailor, pitches in where they can to get the float ready for the parade season; it is truly a team effort," said Chief Machinist Mate Gilbert Daigle, NRD New Orleans marketing and advertising officer.

With the year 2012 marking the 200-year anniversary of the War of 1812, it is a time for the Navy to celebrate its at-sea battles that contributed to the U.S. victory over Great Britain.

"We're looking forward to another great year during Mardi Gras," said Weller. "It's a tremendous opportunity for us to get out into the community and show hundreds of thousands of people that America's Navy is truly a global force for good."

For more news from Navy Recruiting District New Orleans, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/nrdno/.