[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 10, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E19]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CONGRATULATING THE ORDER OF THE POLKA DOTS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JERRY L. CARL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 10, 2024

  Mr. CARL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor The Order of the Polka 
Dots, the first ladies' organization to parade in Mobile, Alabama. 
Despite others' claims, the very first Mardi Gras was held in Mobile in 
1703.
  Since then, the city has been the center of celebration with parades 
and parties, drawing approximately one million people each year. The 
Order of the Polka Dots was started by a group of 20 women in 1949 and 
has now grown to include 480 members. This year, Mobile Mayor Sandy 
Stimpson is naming February 1st, ``Polka Dot Day,'' in their honor. 
Mardi Gras in Mobile is one of my favorite traditions. It is a time 
where families and friends gather for parades, colorful floats, and 
flying Moon Pies. Congratulations to the Order of the Polka Dots on 
their 75th year anniversary. I am proud to commemorate this special day 
in the history of their organization.

                          ____________________