A Mardi Gras to Remember
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, as our Kathleen Koch reported, Katrina devastated her hometown of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. So many people lost everything, but they haven't lost their spirit. The city's Mardis Gras children's parade got started a little while ago. And Kathleen has a unique perspective there from that convertible, and she's accessorized with beads, boa, and mic in hand. And she's also the grand marshal -- Kathleen.</s>KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. You know. this is such an honor here. The people of Bay St. Louis, those who are left, are really turning out for this parade, and I'm kind of getting the hang of the bead throwing. It's very tricky. They get tangled easily, but this is such a great parade. It's the children's parade of Bay St. Louis. The theme is because of the children, and the kids here have had a real tough time the last six months, but they're bouncing back. We've got kids participating of all ages. The king and the queen, who just went ahead of me, are 5- year-olds from Bay Catholic Elementary School. We've got kids from Saint Stanislaw (ph), participating, our lady academy. And from my high school, the Bay High Band is here playing, and they're playing with what instruments they've gotten since the storm. They lost all their instruments in the hurricane, so half of the instruments they're using today were donated, used instruments, and half are brand-new. So they're really excited that now they can put a band back together again, but normally just a high school band, but they've had to draft seventh and eighth-graders to help fill out the roster. What's else is really special, Fredricka, in this is that besides the children participating, as they normally do, we've got Red Cross marching in the parade, the Salvation Army. We've got this group called City Team that's been here feeding people since the hurricane, and they have volunteers from five states who are here marching, too. So it's a great day for everybody.</s>WHITFIELD: Wow. So, Kathleen, I've got to ask you, these beads that you've got on your left arm there, are those for throwing, or those that you have caught?</s>KOCH: No, those are for throwing. I'm actually -- see, I'm neglecting my duties as grand marshall as I talk to you. I should be throwing my beads, because that's what people are here for.</s>WHITFIELD: That's right, you've got a job to do there.</s>KOCH: I do. But people -- we had one parade earlier this weekend, the folks in the parade said, you know, normally people come running up to them mob them to get the beads, but they said this year people were running up and saying, thank you, because everyone just needs a little bit of joy, and I little normalcy in their lives. Oh, I think I hit someone. But it's really special. I mean, Mardi Gras in Mississippi is a real family event. You know, it's something where, you know, it's not bawdy, people don't get drunk. It's just a hometown family celebration, and everyone here looks forward to this so much, so this is just something that people really needed. They really needed a break from digging in the debris and gutting their houses.</s>WHITFIELD: And it seems like quite the contrast, because as we saw in a report earlier from Dan Lothian, that not everybody is celebrating in New Orleans the idea of Mardi Gras, and we saw a lot of friction leading up to it. You know, the divide widening, but it seems as though there you're saying the common point of view is everyone feels this is really what they needed right now, and this is a way of coming together.</s>KOCH: It really is. And because, again, in Mississippi, it's a real family celebration. I would estimate that maybe a tenth of the people here, if that, are tourists. It's all people who live here. So this isn't a real boost to the economy; it's a boost to the spirit, and spirits that have been pretty low. And there is my buddy, Pat Kiergstan (ph). Some of his great video made it in our documentary, one of the brave people, or crazy people, who rode on this storm, you insane man, but it's been a great experience for me. I'm seeing all my friend from high school, and my brothers' and sisters' friends and my teachers, and it's just so great to be back.</s>WHITFIELD: And they recognize you even with those glasses on, eh?</s>KOCH: Yes, they told me I have to wear them. Part of Mardi Gras is masking.</s>WHITFIELD: I like it.</s>KOCH: So I can't unmask myself yet, until the end of the parade. I like it.</s>WHITFIELD: Well, because I'm so envious of your accessories, we've a few here. I hold on to this one for you. This is the official CNN Mardi Gras beads.</s>KOCH: I didn't get any of those.</s>WHITFIELD: I'm saving this for you. You've got one now.</s>KOCH: All right. Well, see, I should have had some, because then I could have thrown them.</s>WHITFIELD: Yes, this would be a really good bargaining chip out there, I'm sure.</s>KOCH: I do have one of the official hurricane beads. They have special Katrina beads that are very hard to come by here on the Gulf Coast, but they're a collector's edition, and some very kind folks have given those to me and to my crew members that are working so very hard, Ron, and Skip, and Peter, my producer, and Ray, my</s>WHITFIELD: All right, everyone on board out there. So good to see you. And I know a lot of folks are happy to see you there in your hometown of Bay St. Louis. You're doing a great job out there. Thanks so much, Kathleen.</s>KOCH: Thanks, Fredricka. We're happy to be here. And happy Mardi Gras.</s>WHITFIELD: Happy Mardis Gras. Well, CNN is also live in New Orleans, as I was alluding to, for that city's Mardis Gras celebrations, hence the beads we've got here. "AMERICAN MORNING" and "ANDERSON COOPER 360" will be live from New Orleans beginning Monday at 6:00 a.m. Eastern, and all day and all night. Coming up on LIVE FROM, 26 hours of terror here in Atlanta, and hopes for averting a replay. We'll explain.