“No, I’m not wearing my crown around the house--but, hey, maybe I should!” quipped Beverly Thornton.

Thornton, a participant service representative with the Thrift Savings Plan Division at the Office of the Chief Financial Officer’s National Finance Center in New Orleans, was referring to the crown she wore as she reigned over the “Krewe of Zulu” Mardi Gras parade on Mardi Gras Parade Day earlier this year. She served as “Queen Zulu” during the festivities--and retains her crown until just before next year’s Mardi Gras activities begin.

Thornton explained that the Zulu organization has been holding its own parade during Mardi Gras since 1909. More formally known as the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, it is a non-profit all-male organization which works in the community, engaged in such activities as assisting local schools, senior citizens homes, and homeless shelters.

Her road to being selected as Queen Zulu for the 2003 Mardi Gras festivities began over a year ago when she was chosen by her husband Gary Thornton, who served as chief of personnel at NFC until he retired in 2000-—and who was “King Zulu” for this year’s Mardi Gras.

Judy Powers, director of NFC’s Thrift Savings Plan Division, noted that the parade over which Thornton reigned consisted of an estimated 75 floats plus over 35 college and high school bands.

So, how did Thornton prepare for ‘parade day?’ “Actually, you have virtually no control over it at all,” she laughed.  “I was surrounded by ‘handlers’ who applied my makeup, did my hair, and adjusted my crown. Then I became the product that emerged from all that effort.”

And as her ‘Queen’s Float’ traversed the ten-mile parade route during the four-hour parade, did she wave to the crowds using the classic British ‘royal wave’?

“Oh yes, because, you see, that particular wave also applies to all ‘Zulu queens’ in New Orleans.”

And did she see any fellow USDA employees lining the streets?

“Yes--and especially since members of the crowd are encouraged to hold up a placard with their name on it or, in this case, with ‘USDA’ on it,” Thornton explained. “Many of my fellow employees did that--and this helped me to recognize them, among the thousands of spectators along the parade route.”

And how did she respond?

“Well, I wouldn’t call out their names--because that wouldn’t be queen-like,” she laughed. “But I did give them a ‘nod of approval’ with my scepter.” •