Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, Art Walk, breaking news, Jacksonville, Squad 7, Star Wars, starwars, Stormtroopers on May 17, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Blast for the Past, yep another great troop at the Jacksonville Art Walk. This is one of my favorite troops to do. it is also the hardest one to work into the schedule. But the pay off is a lot of people excited to see us and we really get to make memories with all who stop and get a picture with us.
Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, 501st Legion, Celtic Parade, Celtic Parade St Augustine Florida, Jacksonville, Squad 7, starwars on May 17, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Sun, fun and kilts. that will always makes for a great troop. The 501st for another year help make this event fun and exciting for all who watched and cheered us on.
Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, breaking news, Squad 7, Stormtroopers on November 9, 2015| Leave a Comment »
Pecan Park Flea Market
Had a good troop at the Great Chili Cook-Off. we walked the market and put smiles on faces of all the kids and adults lol. after they announced the winner of the cook off, we dressed down and went and had a chili taste test. it was very good. little warm out there but worth the troop.
Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, breaking news, Jacksonville, Squad 7, starwars, Stormtroopers on November 8, 2015| Leave a Comment »
It is going to support Combat2College which is a local veterans fundraiser that helps veterans, service members, and their families to resources in order to facilitate their success in post secondary education.
BlackFinn’s hosted this event for our military troops. we walked the room and took photo ops and shook hands as they celebrated the evening. After we completed out mission with the Military troops we stormed the rest of the location and mingled with the patrons that were also celebrating Star Wars Themed evening. The was plenty of Music and fun to be had. the patrons enjoyed the evening just as much as Squad 7 did. the was a fun troop.
Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, ACC, Ancient city con, breaking news, Jacksonville, Squad 7, Star Wars, starwars on July 19, 2015| Leave a Comment »
Troop Dates July 18-19 2015
Today warps up a two day troop at the Ancient City Con. It also was the first time back in my armor since late October 2014. It felt wonderful walking around the convention floor all suited up. There really is nothing like it. Even with my limited vision, watching the peoples faces both grown adults and young kids just put a smile on your face which no one will ever see.
There was a good turn out and the fan came all dressed up in their favorite cos-play costumes. The range of cos-play spanned so many things it would be hard to list. so I wont try but just to say there were a lot of costumes that people put a lot of work into.
I look forward to next years convention, I like the new location (Prime Osborne Convention Center) it has enough space for everybody and give us room to breath lol.. So keep an eye open for next years dates and see you there.
Enjoy the photos of a very small portion of what went on there.
Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, breaking news, Jacksonville, show your colors run @ JU, Squad 7, Star Wars, starwars, stormtrooper on July 18, 2015| Leave a Comment »
Troop Date 10-25-2014
After a 9 month absents from the 501st, I am back trooping, however this post is the last one that I did before my absents. So there is not much to say other than this was a fun and successful troop, here are a bunch of photos from the color run.
Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, breaking news, Catty Shack, catty shack ranch, Jacksonville, Lions, Squad 7, Tigers, Wildlife and Sanctuary on October 12, 2014| Leave a Comment »
After being off the grid for 4 months I was able to jump back into armor and troop again. Life it just seems to get in the way of our fun sometimes. but this post is about the troop not me lol..
Today I got the pleasure to troop at a place that I have never been to and sadly is only 2 miles down the road from me. Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife and Sanctuary. How cool is this place, packed full of big cats and I mean BIG CATS…
This was a Solo mission today as other have done and it was a joy to take part in the festivities they were offering to all the customers today. I did as we like to do and that is to make new young star wars fans by shaking little hands and take many pictures for them to take home and enjoy.
after about 3 1/2 hours of trooping about watching the tigers and lions play about, I wrapped up my day and said farewell and was on my way.
This was a fun troop and hope to do it again when it comes back around next year. I was able to get some picture because a nice employee named Jennifer hind of was roped into handling for me for about an hour. She was very nice and explained some the history and events as we walked and took pictures with the customers. So thank you for your help Jennifer I really do appreciate it.
Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, breaking news, Freedom Festival, Jacksonville, Squad 7, Star Wars, starwars, Stormtroopers on June 30, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Sweating it out in armor with new troopers and handlers this past weekend (06-28-2014) at the Orange park mall in Jacksonville, FL.
Freedom Festival was set to honor and support Military personal both retired and enlisted I believe. This was a fun troop with live music, fire trucks and many other booths loaded with information and food.
Squad 7 troopers and handlers met up in front of Dicks sporting store and it was a collection of regulars and new comers. If I have all their names correct we were introduced to Greg, Kevin and Aaron. Greg trooped as Vader and did a fantastic job at that. it was nice to see a Vader representing Squad 7 again. Kevin and Aaron both working on their armor help handle and it was needed. Thanks to the new comers for coming and trooping with us.
The weather was HOT, the blazing sun beating down forced us to taking breaks every thirty to forty five minutes to ensure no trooper suffered heat exhaustion. we were able to troop on until the end of the event.
Squad 7 marched out to the crowed as we like to do and with no hesitation we were engulfed by the crowed to take pictures. we found a slightly shady spot and let the pictures take control as family after family walked and posed with us. it was great and the crowed was good, no problems at all. We walked the perimeter of the event so everybody could get up close and take pictures. we marched about with some good music playing on the main stage. people were dancing and enjoying the music even in the heat.
we wrapped up by taking a quick break and marching in side the mall around the food court and back to our dressing room. The mall crowed felt like the Paparazzi running ahead of us clicking away on their phones. It was fun and a great way to end this troop. the crowed surly enjoyed seeing us troop around like we owned the place lol…
This was a Hot but fun troop. I really enjoyed meeting and hanging a bit with some new squad7 members. of course I always enjoy the company of the regular troopers and they did a great job as well.
Squad7 you rock on!!!! Great Troop.
Photographer: Morgan Franklin
Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, breaking news, comic books, free comic book day, Gotham City Limits, Jacksonville, May the 4th be with you, Squad 7, Star Wars on May 5, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Standing in the rain, waiting for the doors to open at 10:00 am the line, it was long. what were they waiting on “Free Comic Book Day” I was excited to troop at the Gotham City Limits Comic Book Store on South side Blvd on Saturday the 3rd.
I was surprised a bit by this event. I must admit I have never been a comic book reader so as such I didn’t visit many comic book stores. So I was surprised to see how many people still have a love for them as I had thought they were all but a historic foot note among the digital age. but I was wrong, every age group were ready to storm the store to plunder through the plethora of comics that lined the wall.
I didn’t get to spend the whole day there but there were plenty of other troopers that showed up through the day to fill any void that may have been left. I really enjoyed seeing the smiles on the faces of the kids as they looked at all the comics.
if you get a moment stop by Gotham City Limits. they have an awesome store and I am sure you would find something to read.
Here are some photos of me and the event during my time there.
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Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, breaking news, Easter, Happy Easter, parade, Squad 7, St Augustine Easter Parade, Star Wars, Stormtroopers on April 24, 2014| Leave a Comment »
What stated out to be an overcast day in St Augustine on Easter Sunday ended up being a beautiful day to troop the parade. Everybody met up at the Old Jail and started dressing out for the day. Dawn was thoughtful and brought some ribbons for us to wear to show support for Duke who need our prayers and support this past few weeks.
The sky cleared up and it was time to step off and begin our trek through St Augustine. We walked and waved and the crowed as it always has showed their support of the 501st with loud applause as we marched by the long line of people that came to see this wonderful event.
Below are some pictures taken by Summer Leigh Franklin
Photographer: Summer Leigh Franklin
TK-50167 STORMTROOPER 