[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 709]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING VICTORIA HANZO

 Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, today I recognize Ms. Victoria 
Michelle Hanzo, a bright and talented young Louisianian.
  Each year since 1743, the carnival celebration known as Mardi Gras, 
French for ``Fat Tuesday,'' has been celebrated by the people of New 
Orleans. The season officially begins on January 5, the Twelfth Night 
of Christmas and the Feast of the Epiphany. Also recognized in many 
countries around the world with large Roman Catholic populations, Mardi 
Gras is the final party prior to the ritual fasting of the Lenten 
Season, which begins on Ash Wednesday.
  Over the many decades that New Orleanians have celebrated Mardi Gras, 
``krewes'' or private Mardi Gras social organizations have also 
contributed to the merriment and glee surrounding the festive season. 
In Greek mythology, Endymion was known for his everlasting youth and 
beauty. In 1966, the Krewe of Endymion was established and has annually 
paraded through the streets of New Orleans. Today, Endymion is known 
for being the largest parade in New Orleans, both for the number of 
members--more than 2,600--and also for the incredible size and 
spectacle of its floats. This krewe has meant a lot to me since I had 
one of my first jobs as a high school student painting Endymion's 
floats--white primer only, as I wasn't trusted with colors.
  During the Krewe of Endymion's 47th year, Ms. Victoria Michelle Hanzo 
will reign as queen. Ms. Hanzo is a senior at Archbishop Chapelle High 
School and has been on the distinguished honor roll each year while a 
student at Chapelle. She is also a member of the National Society of 
High School scholars, has been a student ambassador for 4 years, is a 
student representative for her senior class on the student council, and 
is an active member in Health Nuts, an organization that promotes 
fitness and nutrition. Lastly, Victoria is a member of the prolife club 
and has traveled to Washington, DC, recently with over 600 high school 
students from the New Orleans area for the March for Life Rally, an 
occasion and cause for which I will continue to be a strong advocate.
  She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Hanzo and the granddaughter 
Mr. and Mrs. Edmond J. Muniz, the founder and captain of the Krewe of 
Endymion. Next year she plans to continue her education at Louisiana 
State University in Baton Rouge. It is exciting for such an 
accomplished young person to have this honor and will be something she 
will cherish for a lifetime. She joins a long line of family members 
who have also had the honor of serving as queen of Endymion: her mother 
Michelle in 1986, her Aunt Mary in 1984, her aunt Margie in 1991, and 
her cousin Erica in 2012.
  As we celebrate the 2013 Mardi Gras season, it is my pleasure to 
honor Ms. Victoria Michelle Hanzo as the 47th queen of the Krewe of 
Endymion.

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