2017 Vulcan Krewe at Rice Park
Interview with KMSP's MA Rosko.
Interview with KMSP's MA Rosko.
The krewe got their name, not by the virtue of comedic irony that is so common amongst Vulcan krewes but by being written up in the Pioneer Press's Sainted and Tainted column four times for their good behavior. Krewe members would suggest that this was simply dumb luck knowing their Vulc, a former Marine helicopter krewe chief, who defined many of the quintessential qualities of a Vulcan. This krewe started a relationship in 2009 with the Minnesota chapter of the Wounded Warrior Project in a commitment to help with their fundraising goals. That relationship has continued ever since.
The 1946 "Victory Krewe" was manned by veterans returning from World War II. Self described as a group of "young guys", this krewe celebrated what was arguably one of the biggest Winter Carnivals ever.
The 1940 Vulcan krewe was the first "formal" Vulcan Krewe. Previous years had been last minute plans and Ernie decided to make something of it. As recollected by Bill Sampson in 1972, "So the next year somebody said, "This Vulcan operation ought to
have some kind of a serious system to it. It ought to be more than an after thought at the last minute. Something has to be put together. So Ernie Reiff, who was the president of St. Paul Casualty Company, devised the uniforms to look like devils, the knighting ceremony, the black smooching, the fire engines to run around in... So under Ernie Reiff, the Fire King and his krewe was established and the ceremonies that we now follow today, the fire engines, the knightings, and that good stuff."
This moment, captured during the 2013 krewe's running year shows a soldier surprising his family with his return from combat by masquerading as a member of the krewe.