NRD New Orleans Wraps Up Mardi Gras 2012

NEW ORLEANS (NNS) -- Navy Recruiting District New Orleans wrapped up its participation in the carnival season of Mardi Gras 2012 on 'Fat Tuesday' with its participation in the 'Krewe of Rex' parade Feb. 21.

The carnival season, which took place from Jan. 6 through Feb. 21, attracted millions of locals and tourists from around the world. Sailors from NRD New Orleans participated in the parades while riding aboard the U.S. Navy float, an asset resembling the USS Constitution used to promote Navy awareness throughout Mardi Gras.

"New Orleans is one of the few cities in the United States that encompasses so many people of diverse backgrounds in one area," said Cmdr. David Weller, commanding officer, NRD New Orleans. "Having the Navy float in as many parades as we can provides a unique opportunity to promote the Navy's 'global force for good' branding to millions of locals and tourists over a short period of time. This type of exposure cannot compare with any other recruiting or community outreach event the Navy does."

The Navy float rode in 10 parades, starting with the 'Krewe of Cleopatra' parade Feb. 10, and ending with the 'Krewe of Rex' parade Feb. 21. Float riders consisted of Sailors and Marines from various commands throughout New Orleans, their dependents, DoD civilian employees, and special guests.

One of these guests in particular was Vanessa Bolano, a reporter from WGNO (ABC 26) in New Orleans, and her husband Ira Gonzalez, who rode with Sailors from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 77 (VAW-77) during the "Krewe of Endymion" parade Feb. 18.

"Riding Endymion with the U.S. Navy was an experience my husband and I will never forget. Our clothes may have been wet, but our spirits were not dampened," said Bolano, referring to the driving rain showers that occurred before the Endymion parade. "We had such a great time no one on the float wanted the night to end."

"I had the most amazing time; definitely an experience I will never forget," said Kate Laing, the NAS JRB New Orleans ombudsman, who rode the Navy float during the Rex parade. "I feel very lucky to have been given the opportunity to ride the Navy float during Mardi Gras, and I hope to have a chance to ride again next year."

According to the official New Orleans tourism website, the carnival season of Mardi Gras is a tradition dating back to its first daytime parade, Rex, in 1872. Since that time, carnival season has increased its momentum by introducing dozens of new parades and Krewes. By 1989, more than 600,000 people attended parades on the West and East banks of Jefferson Parish on "Fat Tuesday" alone.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

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