Goodbye to a Heckuva Wreck

With Mardi Gras party season in full force, my attention is turned to the festivities on Pensacola Beach, where I spent ten glorious years celebrating that most convivial of seasons.  This year the memories are more poignant as I learned of the passing of Mary Drees on January 5th of this month.



On the Krewe of Wrecks Royalty float, 1993



During the time I spent with the Krewe of Wrecks, I came to know and love Mary.  Most of those years she was the Head Wreck, leading the boisterous group of Krewes and clubs who put on parties, a champagne breakfast, a parade, a red beans and rice lunch and much more. 



Mardi Gras on Pensacola Beach was conceived in the fall of 1979, after the tourists had gone home for the winter and the beach fell into the lull and boredom of the off season.  Larry Geisel, Frank Douglas, and Jane Waters hatched the plan over drinks in the Islander Lounge.  It wasn't always easy, this fledgling party to give life to Santa Rosa Island in the winter.  But the committee grew, the locals responded and by the time this writer arrived on the scene in 1989, Mardi Gras on the Island was celebrating its tenth year.



Jane Waters Cooper wrote about Mardi Gras on the Island and the Krewe of Wrecks in her 1997 book, To the Beat of an Island Drum.  It is an interesting read about the history, the problems, the good times, and is chock full of photos of the participants through the years. 

The feature of the Krewe of Wrecks celebration I appreciate most is the sense of community.  The floats are homemade by the Krewes and the Krewes typically support the local concern of their choice with fundraising efforts.  Certainly, there are some raucous parties and a lot of beads, but many of the festivities are family friendly, a real community affair. 

Having been brought into this party by our friends, Steve and Martha Cooper, I fell directly into step with their family and friends group, The Flamingo Social Club.  I spent some years' parades in pink - crazy hats, sweatsuits, plastic nose - another year in a toga, some years spectating.  The year Martha was outgoing First Mate (the Wrecks' version of Queen,) found me on the Royalty float (pictured above.)

I want to say thank you to all the people who made Mardi Gras on the Island a reality and those who keep it alive today.  Many of those wonderful, fun-loving people have passed through the years.  Each time I hear that we have lost one, I am sad, but their remembrance leaves me smiling.  This year, to Mary Drees I say, rest in peace and please wave at us and throw us some beads from the parade!

for more: http://www.pensacolabeachmardigras.com/