[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 20 (Thursday, February 7, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE 111TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WASHINGTON BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION 
                              ASSOCIATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY CUELLAR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 7, 2008

  Mr. CUELLAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 111th 
anniversary of the Washington Birthday Celebration Association (WBCA) 
in Laredo, Texas.
  The Washington Birthday Celebration is a nearly month-long event held 
in Laredo, Texas. It is the largest celebration of its kind in the 
United States that honors the birthday of George Washington, the first 
President of the United States. The festival receives over 400,000 
attendees, and consists of various celebrations including the Society 
of Martha Washington Colonial Pageant & Ball, Princess Pocahontas 
Pageant and Ball, parades, a carnival, an air show, and live concerts.
  The WBCA was founded in 1898 by the patriotic Improved Order of the 
Red Men, Local Chapter Yaqui Tribe No. 59, whose members included 
prominent Laredoans of both Mexican and American ancestry. The first 
celebration was a great success, and its popularity grew when the 
Washington Birthday Celebration Association of Laredo, Inc., received 
its state charter in 1923. In the following year, in 1924, the 
Celebration featured its first Colonial Pageant, which showcased 
thirteen young women from Laredo, representing the thirteen original 
colonies. The International Bridge Ceremony is the welcoming ceremony 
between officials and dignitaries from Mexico and United States as a 
sign of international good will between the two nations.
  Madam Speaker, I am honored to have had this time to recognize the 
111th anniversary of the Washington Birthday Celebration Association in 
Laredo, Texas.

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