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Posts Tagged ‘Stormtroopers’

The St Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival

Posted in Trooping, tagged , , , , , , on March 9, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Wow, thats all one can say about this troop. what a day we had as a Squad. The weather cleared up and turned out to be an awesome day for the Parade and the Festival.

Our day started in the parking lot at around 7:00am. Troopers gathered up and we visited with each other telling our stories from past events. Bonding time as we all get ready for the parade. its always nice to mingle about and chat it up before an event.

The parade started around 10:00 am and we had a blast giving high fives and posing for some photos for the crowds that lined the streets. Its always nice to here the crowd wind up into a loud cheer as we round a corner. it just brings joy to my hart each time I here it. Means we are doing a good job and that the goal.

After the parade some troopers departed, some dressed down as did it so I could help handle for the troopers that toughed it out and stayed in armor for the better part of the day. We walked around and posed for photos and chatted it up, had some food and drinks.  The people were great and loved seeing the troopers in armor and kilts. this throws some people though and they just have to ask “Why Star Wars and Kilts, Whats the connection?” we really do have a good story other then we were invited and we love to come. maybe we should work on a good back story to tell lol. We trooped from 10:00 to 5:00 when the last trooper was ready to take a rest. He did however head back to the festival for more fun and entertainment.

The Festival is packed with great Celtic music, it fills the are and helps set the mood. you can’t help but feel like you have gone back in time a bit as you hear the music and see everybody in period clothing. Each band takes the stage and plays with all there hart for the fan. But none play with as much hart and soul then Albannach. This band starts with a punch and does not stop until their set is done. you can not stay seated as the drums and bag pipes get the blood moving. They are quit good if i say so myself. you can check them out here on facebook.

What makes a great show even better. The band inviting Storm Troopers to the stage for their last song. There is nothing better then being on stage dancing and having a great time with such a high energy band. Albannach you guys rock!!!

Here are some photos of the days events.

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http://www.celticstaugustine.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AlbannachMusic

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Odyssey of the Mind

Posted in Trooping, tagged , , , , , , , on March 2, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Odyssey of the Mind

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This was another fun troop and for Squad7 a nice turn out of troopers. The Bishop Snyder High School put on this annual competition for it students and this year they invited the 501st to join the fun. The day is filled with problem solving activities for the students set in a caravel like atmosphere. There were hundreds of kids moving about the school grounds, taking part in all the activities.

Squad7 Troopers invaded the activities and were met with an awesome response from students and parents. Students started lining up and taking pictures, reaching out and touching the armor to see if it was real. Trading cards were a big hit as students collected them from each trooper and asked for autographs. The excitement was clear to us and everybody around us knew that this was to be an even better event then they could have imagined.

Students were spread all around the school grounds taking part in all the activities. Dressed in their team colors ready to competed, students could not help be smile as they walked past a Jawa  or a Tuskin Raider, Watching closely as the Storm troopers and Biker Scouts stood post. Star Wars has landed right in there schools court yard and they were not sure what to make of it. But they soon relaxed once they understood they were not being invaded and were being celebrated.

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For two hours the students enjoyed the company of the 501st Squad7 members. The School donated $200.00 to a charity in the name of the 501st and we greatly appreciated their generosity. We were assured by the staff at the school that we would be asked to come back for this great and educational event.

Thanks for all the Troopers who were able to make it out.

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The 501st Legion shows up on Mythbusters

Posted in News Flash, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 2, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Mythbusters and the 501st Legion

Join the 501st on the Mythbusters as they show up on the show this season.

January 4th on Discovery

The 501st Legion will gain more national attention from the up coming season of the Mythbusters as some of the 501st members will appear on the hit TV show.

Mythbusters will be putting to the test some of the things we see in the star wars movies and to help them Star Wars up the place some very lucky 501st members will join in the fun.

Honorary member to the 501st Legion, Adam Savage and his co-host Jamie Hyneman looks into a galaxy far, far away to see if some of what we see in the movies can be busted as Myth’s. This episode is shaping up to be fun and educational for us all.

As for the 501st Legion, what great exposure to the global TV watching community. As a member it gives me great pride to see our brothers and sisters in armor on the TV representing the 501st legion with style and class.

The work that the 501st Legion does to help raise money for a long list of charities is sometime over shadowed by people who want to point only to the costuming part of who and what we are.

It’s true that our members has a love for Star Wars and costuming, but they also have the same passion to bring a little joy and entertainment to children and parents alike, by showing up in costume and allowing the families to excape from their daily troubles and smile for a change, if only for a short time its still means a lot to them.

It great when TV shows like the Mythbusters will allow groups like the 501st Legion to join in on the fun and help spread the message of the work that the 501st legion does each year. I truly believe the exposure that is gained when represented correctly will only help these charities in the long run. It also helps with recruitment to the 501st Legion as there are fans out there that are not aware that there is a club that embraces the movies as the 501st does and allows them to build a costume and become more then a fan, it allows them to live in that world and at the same time help raise money for people in need.

So buckets off to the Mythbusters and Adam Savage for this episode that’s coming. I know I thank you, I am sure the Legion thanks you and I hope the fans of your show will thank you for bringing something so awesome to your show.

Watch some video clips of the upcoming episode by following the links below.

Watch a small promo from Mythbuster website here: 501st and the Mythbusters

The 501st Legion website: here

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Image Credits DCI
Copyright © 2014 Discovery Communications, LLC.

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Keystone Heights Parade 12-07-2013

Posted in Trooping, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 12, 2013| 1 Comment »

image5Keystone Heights, destination next. After doing the Pecan park Troop. I loaded up and headed to Keystone Heights for the Parade. This would be the first time I have been to Keystone for anything so this was truly a new troop for me. I brought with me my step daughter and her friend. they would handle and take pictures for us.

We got there pretty early so we walked about and visited with other troopers that lived out that way.  As the sun started to fall from the sky we headed back and started dressing out. once all the troopers were geared up and ready to go we headed out to our position in line. we stood around and took some photos and chit chatted about past troops and other sorted tales of trooping.

The parade master walked by yelling “7 min to go” and everybody started getting in position and ready for the walk. the Sun was down and the night had fallen on the streets. The darkness was lit with the festive lights on the float in front of us and the houses we will soon be passing as we troop on.

Time to go, everybody lined up and we started our slow walk down the street. the crowed looked like shadow people as I tried to see them as we passed each block. The colorfully lit house help make the people stand out as they cheered and waved as we marched by. Its was funny as we marched I kept hearing people say “Look it’s the Star Wars” that just sounded strange and funny to me. The march was not a long one and I really enjoyed the limited sight I could see through my bucket. before I knew it we are done and I could relax.

Thanks to the kindness of the float in front of use they offered to give us a ride back to the starting point so we would not have to make that walk back. That being said as a stormtrooper is can be difficult to sit, Another troop and I kind of balanced on the edge and held on for life as we rolled on down the road. After a few moment of hanging on for dear life we were back to the staging area and we all piled into the lodge where we stored our gear and dressed back into street cloths.

To round the night out some of us troopers hit the local BBQ house and had a great meal as we chatted it up and had a good time. In all this was a great trooping day. I was able to knock out two troop and had a good time doing so.

Here are some of the images below.

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Pecan Park Flea Market 12-7-2013

Posted in Trooping, tagged , , , , , , on December 11, 2013| Leave a Comment »

06-Troop Dec 7 2013 020What another wonderful day for a Troop and on this day I would do two troops. First up was the Pecan Park Flea Market Troop. The second will be in my next post, where you can read all about it.

The troopers gathered up and we started walking about the grounds. One of the benefits here is being able to stay out of direct sun light. Walking undercover of the main buildings make this troop more bearable. On this day the weather was son nice even been in the direct sun was not to bad, although you would not want to stay out in it to long.

This venue provides us with a lot of photo ops and bring smile to all the kids and parents out shopping for good deals. We also were able to show up to a young mans birthday by the paint ball field that Pecan Park has. “I didn’t know they had one now” but it was full of people shooting paint at each other.

We trooped around and continued to do what we do best “show off in our costumes lol” and then we were provide some food and drinks as a thank you for trooping the event.

We closed out the troop with a few more photos and hand shakes and then were for off to troop number two for the day. Here are some photos from this troop.

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Star Wars Reads Day – BAM

Posted in Trooping, tagged , , , , , , , , on November 18, 2013| Leave a Comment »

I know this is a bit late, but this and a few other post are going to be coming that are late to the game as well. sorry folks sometime real life gets in the way. but here you go.

star-wars-reads-dayStar Wars reads day at Book-A-Million.

This is a pretty big event for the 501st as we are spread out all around town at different locations to engage people at book stores around the city. Susie, Kyle and I were posted at the Atlantic boulevard Books-A-Million. This location had setup a table with Star Wars crafts and some treats for the kids to have.

I had a good time interacting with the kids and yes adults to as they walked around the store. we had a few kids come in costume which always makes this TK smile, even though you can’t see it lol.

Here are some images of the event and can’t wait until next year.

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First Annual Student Veterans of America “Show Your Colors Run”

Posted in Trooping, tagged , , , , , , on November 17, 2013| Leave a Comment »

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10-09-2013 JU Color Run

This was the first annual Student Veterans of America “Show Your Colors Run” hosted by Jacksonville University. The race is a 5K fun run (not timed) that both starts and stops at the Jacksonville University amphitheater. Proceeds from the race and any donations received will go towards supporting veterans on campus.photo13

So this was a fun troop. nothing like over a hundred people covered in powered paint running to brighten your day. We started the day early on a beautiful morning by getting ready to excite the runners before their starting time. It was to be me and Vader today and we were welcomed with a grand entrance. we got dressed and were carried close to the waiting crowed via a golf cart. I must say setting on that thing was quite the chore, I just kind of fell onto the back seat and held on lol. The drive stopped close to the crowed so we could get out and walk up to them. The DJ spun up the Imperial march and we walked to the waiting crowed and starting giving high fives and taking pictures.

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We mingled for about 10 min and then the campus president and some other big wigs chatted it up with the crowed. when the was completed we were escorted to a staging area where runners would be coming by. we were to give them some imperial courage. you know a little force push from Vader, a blaster in the back end for this trooper ya know motivation. We watched as the runners come flying by and with each lap the kept getting more colorful the that last lap.

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The event came to a close and it was decided not to go back to the crowed as all that powered paint would not set well on Vaders cape. It turned out to be a great troop, I had a good time.

Donations raised was $4,320.58

501st and Squad7

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Art Walk Downtown Jacksonville 9-04-2013

Posted in Trooping, tagged , , , , , , , , , on September 5, 2013| Leave a Comment »

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The Jacksonville Art Walk, its one of a few things that happens each month in the city that I feel is a great thing for the city, It brings people together for a festive event and they show up even when it rains. This months Art Walk was no different, Squad 7 Troopers gathered at the old fire house and headed out for another exciting evening of trooping.

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I am always surprised by the reaction of people as we walk by in a group. you would think I would be use to it by now, but nope it still makes me smile under helmet(we Troopers call it our bucket) when they get all excited and hop around asking for a picture. This happens with boys, girls, men and women of all ages. Sometime we even get pictures with the Dogs they bring with them, fun times for all to have.

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Tonight the weather was on the Dark Side. The black clouds drifted in bring with it the flash of lighting and rolling thunder.

It was a good turn out for the evening event in spite of the weather. people braved the light rain and stayed in good sprites.

Art Walk 09-04-2013 006We headed back a bit early because the rain didn’t seem like it was going to let up, the humidity and heat was starting to take it toll.

This was a good Troop and I had a great time with all the Squad 7 Troopers along with the Handlers that joined us.

Thanks Troopers for making this a fun one

here is the Jacksonville.com photo album of that evening, there are photos that feature us doing what we do.

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John Kovacs’ 40th surprise Star Wars birthday

Posted in Trooping, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on September 4, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Birthday’s are always interesting troops. They are born from a fan boy/girls love of Star Wars and a loved one (his wife Tiffany) desire to bring Star Wars to life for them on there very special day and this troop was no exception.

John Kovac is no doubt a Star Wars fan boy, as evident by the plethora of collectibles that were scattered around the Cafe. The Cool Moose Cafe over on park street was the location that hosted this SW Surprise party. its a small two room cafe that was decorated from head to toe with anything and everything SW. We had Star Wars trilogy being projected to a big screen over the bar playing episode after episode. There SW buckets from all types of clone troopers deployed about the cafe along with light sabers of many types. we even had rings that looked like Storm troopers heads mixed with the chex mix in bowels setup on one of the SW covered tables. Needless to say there was Star Wars everwhere. now all we needed was some real characters to show up to make it perfect. That’s were the 501st comes in.

Once everybody from the 501st got to location we had a total of 2 Storm troopers, 2 Tie Pilots and one lonely Jedi. But wait! We were also join by Johns wife’s(Tiffany) brother as a Boba Fett, his name I did not get. We stood post near the front door as guest started to arrive and handed out black bead necklaces and homemade Styrofoam Lego looking light sabers. We greeted guest and took some pictures as we waited for the birthday boy to arrive which was just around the corner.

John, as he opened the door was greeted by two storm troopers one of which stopped him and slapped a set of binders on him then started to escort him around the room of guest. The surprise was a success, he, john claimed to be clueless to the event and its plans. John made his rounds hand shaking and hobnobbing with guest as they all started to settle in for a night of fun.

The 501st members started to move about and pose for photos and engage in chatter with other guest. reactions to our presents were mixed by the guest. some were very excited to see us and well some not so much. but in all we stood our post and brought to life the world of Star Wars for John.

The evening was a success for both the birthday boy and the two charities that would benefit from the guest. The host of the party asked each guest not to buy a present for John, but to bring a donation instead. as our time came to an end we were invited to stay and enjoy something to eat and hang out with everybody. We did stay for some food and a drink but this was Johns party with his friends so packed up and headed out leaving them to enjoy the rest of the evening.

All in all the event was a success. John got to enjoy all his friends and all his Star Wars props wrapped into a party he will remember for years to come. The party was able to raise $91.00 at the party and more to come at a later date.

This troop for me was an interesting one for the books and account for my 17 troop, that’s one more troop toward number 20.

I don’t currently have any photos of the event but as soon as I can get some I will post them here on the blog.

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Riverside Arts Market

Posted in Trooping, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 25, 2013| 1 Comment »

Today was Sci-Fi day at the Riverside Arts market and it would not be complete without the 501st being there.

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Starting around 10:00 am members of the 501st converged underneath the Fuller Warren Bridge for another exciting day of trooping. Its was not long after everybody got dressed out that we were walking up and down the isle stopping for photo ops and high fives for the kids. This trip my step daughter pitched in as a handler for me and the help was wonderful. To date most of my troops have been with no handler my own lol. I have had help from others but this time I was able to get some photos of myself.

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The crowd growing every bigger was filled with adults and kids dressed in costumes or just sci-fi swag. Smiles and laughter echoed all around us from underneath that bridge and song from the stage and it singer filled even more of the area. Lets not forget the smell of all the good food that was being sold.

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after a few hours the heat had taken its toll on me and I headed back to the staging area. I wish I could of done more but I was wiped out. the heat this morning coupled with the humidity made it a tough troop for me. guess I am getting old after all lol. Victoria and I walked around for a bit long so people could get photos of me and even her. After we got back to the staging area I packed up and took my armor to the car and we headed back to the Art Market for some lunch and to walk around to view all the cool things out there.

Here is an image that was taking by Craig of Craig Hill Photography. this is a wonderful images of three troopers, I believe I am the out of focus one in the background. This image to me invokes a feeling of star wars. almost like we are planet side scouting  the area before we do the deed.

Craig Hill Photography

501st Troopers – by Craig Hill Photography

Please take a moment to visit his website

http://craighillphotography.com/

or

like his Facebook Page

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Today on my 16 troop, handing out cards to all the little kids I saw something that one would have to know would come if you do this long enough lol… yep on the way out and heading home I saw one of my trading cards bent and discarded on the gound. Oh the horror!!! No really it was not that bad but it had to happen some day lol.

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So all an all aside from my body giving way to the heat today we had a good time and troop. I plan to keep on Keeping on so keep an eye out for more posts to come.

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