WBCA Delegation in D.C.
LAREDO, TX– Representatives of the Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association (WBCA), of Laredo, Texas, traveled to Washington D.C. to co-host a reception with the City of Laredo and Congressman Henry Cuellar, who portrayed George Washington during the 117th festivities, to invite federal officials to Laredo for the 118th Celebration.
“In honoring the Father of our Country it is important to visit our nation’s capital and our country’s leaders to share our patriotism and enthusiasm and to invite them to our very special celebration,” WBCA president-elect Veronica Castillon said.
Castillon took every opportunity to invite officials in D.C. to Laredo’s award winning festival.
“Our trip to Washington D.C. is yet another way to venture out and promote Laredo and the Celebration; and, expand our WBCA family,” she added.
The 2014 Ambassadors who were present in D.C. were the honorable Henry Cuellar, who portrayed George Washington during the 117th Washington’s Birthday Celebration festivities; Rebecca Maria Mata Laurel, portraying Martha Dandridge Washington; Selika Nicole De La Garza, portraying Princess Pocahontas; Luis Humberto Hinojosa, portraying Chief Buffalo Spirit Keeper of the Tribal Wampums; and the Abrazo Children: representing the United States, Isabella Gonzalez and Frank Riley Puig; and representing Mexico, Gisella Rose Carranza Gutiérrez and Eduardo Andres Lerma Bazan.
The WBCA delegation visited Mount Vernon and had the distinct honor to pay tribute to the real George and Martha Washington in a very special way. The group was allowed access to the rarely visited third floor of the Mt. Vernon estate.
While in D.C., the delegation hosted a reception to invite federal officials, legislators, and department heads to Laredo to experience the 118th Washington’s Birthday Celebration firsthand. Some of the guests in attendance included Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn and congressmen and congresswomen, from Texas, Mike Conaway, Filemon Vela, John Carter, Louie Gohmert, Michael McCaul, Sheila Jackson Lee, Beto O’Rourke, Joaquin Castro and Bill Flores.
Also in attendance at the event were, congressmen from Florida, Patrick Murphy, Mario Diaz-Balart and Joe Garcia. From New York, Bill Owens; North Carolina, David Price; Missouri, William Lacy Clay; Washington, Derek Kilmer; New Mexico, Ben Ray Lujan and Michelle Lujan Grisham; New England, Adrian Smith; California, Juan Vargas. Along with Deputy Commissioner of CBP Thomas Winkowski and Acting Director of ICE DHS, Dan Ragsdale; and, Democratic Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
The reception featured a 5-minute La Costeña Jalapeño Eating contest, in which several Congressman and invitees tested their mettle against the ever popular green pepper. Taking home first place was Washington Congressman Kilmer, followed by Daan Speth, a visiting Microbiologist and researcher at Radboud University of Nijmegen and in third was Congressman Vargas.
The Washington’s Birthday Celebration, founded in 1898, is the largest Celebration of its kind in the United States. Throughout the years, the Celebration has grown to be over a month long and consists of parades, dazzling pageants, fireworks, a carnival, an air show, a sizzling jalapeño festival and much more. Combined, WBCA events attract nearly 500,000 residents and visitors, and yearly contributes an estimated $14 million to the local economy.