On Saturday, February 22, Krewe des Pirates set sail
on their 10th anniversary to the theme “Diamonds in the
Rough” at Burton Coliseum. The evening began with the
presentation of colors by the Sea Cadets Color Guard,
followed by the National Anthem and the presentation
of the Krewe Crest. Next came the introduction of the
Krewe Board of Directors: Chad Pousson, Vice President;
Denise Savant, Treasurer; Lottie Courvelle, Ball
Chair ; Pam Harris, Secretary; Ashley Guillory, Rebecca
Spears, Eddie Langley and Karen LaRocca, Advisory
Members; and David James, Float Captain.
After the presentation of the past Courts from 2011
through 2018, last year’s Captain, Shawn Duhon, and
King Pierre IX and Queen Jacqueline IX, Manley and
Danna Sims, made their last walk with Duke and Duchess
David and Sallye James.
Master of Ceremonies Russ Conrad gave a huge
thank you from the Krewe members to the 2010 founding
58 • MARDI GRAS SOUTHWEST • FEBRUARY 24, 2020
pirates Troy and Angela Kiser, Eddie Langley,
Lorie Chehotsky, Joe and Vickie Vezina, Jimmy and
Jackie Bastow, and Mark and Debbie Lavergne for their
pirate vision.
Krewe President and Captain Cherie Trahan represented
the rare Red Diamond as she rocked to “Losing
Control” by Missy Elliott. A Lake Charles native, Cherie
has been married to Christopher Trahan for 26 years,
and their son Colby is 15. She has served on the school
board at St. Margaret Catholic School for six years,
where she was also a substitute teacher. She is an assistant
track coach both at St. Margaret and also with AAU.
Cherie loves martial arts, and she and her son have
trained in Taekwondo for eight years. She and her husband
have been Krewe members since 2011, with Cherie
serving on the board for six years. They also belong to
the Pelican Coast Parrot Head Club, the Calcasieu Boat
Club, and The Buccaneers of Lake Charles. The Trahans
are parishioners of St. Margaret Catholic Church.
Duke and Duchess Craig and Karen LaRocca, representing
the rare Pink Diamond, danced their way
down the boardwalk to “Up Town Funk” by Bruno Mars.