Mardi Gras monarchs arrive via USCG cutter

The Mardi Gras monarch King Rex and his krewe disembark the Coast Guard Cutter Harry Claiborne at Spanish Plaza in downtown to kick off the start of Lundi Gras

MARCH 4, 2014 — Today’s Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans were preceded yesterday by Lundi Gras. when the Mardi Gras monarchs Kings Rex and Zulu arrived at Spanish Plaza in downtown.

The Coast Guard annually participates in Mardi Gras by delivering the monarchs of Mardi Gras as well as manning a float for several parades throughout the carnival the season.

The Coast Guard Cutter Harry Claiborne, a 175-foot coastal construction tender homeported in Galveston, Texas, provided the safe transportation of the monarchs for the 2014 Mardi Gras celebration.

That’s King Rex in the photograph. And if the face under the beard looks a little familiar to many in the marine and offshore industry, that’s because this year’s King Rex is Jack Laborde, president of oil and gas exploration and production company All Aboard Development Corp. and chairman of Gulf Island Fabrication Inc.

There’s a nice background story on how Mr. Laborde came to be wearing this year’s crown HERE

King Zulu and his Krewe depart the Coast Guard Cutter Harry Claiborne from their transport to Spanish Plaza to kick off the start of Lundi Gras, March 3, 2014 (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Elizabeth H. Bordelon)