Bienvenue à Mardi Gras, Mesdames et Messieurs! Welcome to the Twelfth Annual Mardi Gras Bal Masque!
Thank you for joining us as we continue to celebrate our French
heritage and our centuries-old Mardi Gras traditions. This year is
very special to everyone in the Krewe because of the devastation
wreaked on our beloved Louisiana by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
We are grateful to all of you, both repeat guests and first-timers, who
tonight are helping us to aid those who lost so much while saving so
many lives during these terrible storms.
The men and women of the United States Coast Guard were first on the scene rescuing people trapped on rooftops and treetops all along the Gulf Coast. The early news reports showed the Coast Guard helicopters and boats
in places where many others dared not venture.
Often these "angels on earth" were witnessing the devastation of
their own homes as they struggled to get stranded people to safety.
They truly 
are heroes for our time, and we hope our donation
tonight helps to restore some of the physical belongings they lost.
As a special tribute to our Mardi Gras heritage and customs, our tableau tonight celebrates the tradition of the masquerade. Some of the earliest relics indicate that the celebratory use of masks originated in ancient Egypt when families paid tribute to ancestors and relatives. From there, the Romans brought these customs to Europe, where the Venetian Carnival has come to symbolize mirth and merriment among peoples of a community. As the “New World" was
conquered, the traditions of masked celebrations were carried
overseas with the settlers of these new lands. Carnival in Rio and the
celebrations in Trinidad & Tobago provide joy and entertainment to
millions of people each year! And of course, the ultimate masquerade
is our very own Louisiana Mardi Gras! Join us this evening
in our celebration of the Mystical Masquerade! 
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