LaPlace parade traces history back to 1966 – oldest in St. John Parish

By LEONARD GRAY

Managing Editor

LAPLACE — Krewe Du Monde takes to the streets on Sunday, celebrating not only a return to Carnival season but also to help handicapped children.

The LaPlace Lions Club will feature, as its first float, a group of four handicapped LaPlace children provided with throws to help promote the Lion’ efforts. One is from East St. John High and three others from LaPlace Elementary.

&#8220It’s a pilot program to promote Lions,” said Reuben Keating, who chairs the committee for the special Lions float, which will lead off the parade.

Early plans called for the Lions Club to build the float, but Katrina slowed that process, and a rented float will be used in its place.

Meanwhile, Krewe Du Monde keeps on growing, with this year expected to be its biggest ever.

Parade Marshal Don Mince said this is the third year the LaPlace Lions have sponsored the parade, and it has grown from 14 floats the first year, to 19 in the second.

This year’s parade is expected to have 33 floats and two bands, more than double than its first year.

Originally, LaPlace’s parade was put on by the Krewe of Allovus, established in 1966. Krewe of Allovus, which drew its name from, of all places, the Kennedy family yacht which was called &#8220Tenuvus,” for the large Kennedy family.

That first parade featured Clarence V. Madere Jr. as the first king. The parades continued through 1972, then lapsed for two years.

A new organization took it over, the LaPlace Jaycees captained by Ron Landry, which renamed the parade the Krewe Du Monde, while Allovus confined itself to a ball.

The name was provided by the late Sister Mary Germaine, principal of St. Joan of Arc School, who said it means &#8220Of the People.”

The Jaycees folded in the late 1980s, and through a succession of sponsors, including Mince and Bill Birner and later Stephen Flynn, the parade rolled on until the LaPlace Lions Club took it on three years ago.

Income from entry fees for the parade floats go to handicapped children, as well as the Lions Eye Foundation and the Lions summer camp for handicapped children.

Corporations can roll their own floats, and get a tax write-off, but that isn’t the main motivation.

&#8220It’s a worthwhile cause,” he said.

Sheriff Wayne L. Jones and his department also plan a float in this years’ Krewe Du Monde.

A ball was held Friday night at Belle Terre Country Club with past parade royalty but there are no kings or queens this year. On the other hand, the parade will feature plenty of festival royalty due to participate.

&#8220We’re looking for a pretty good crowd,” Mince said, with clear, cool weather anticipated. It starts at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.