The Rebel Pilot "bucket list"

When it comes to Star Wars, there aren’t many things left on my personal “bucket list”…

* Lightsaber duel with Darth Vader in a stadium full of fans (Columbus Crew) = CHECK!

* Play “Star Wars” themed laser tag (Lazer Xtreme) = CHECK!

* Meet a NASA astronaut (twice) = CHECK!

* Perform onstage with an orchestra playing Star Wars music (Cleveland POPS – twice) = CHECK!

And a few others…

But there was ONE thing I had yet to participate in as a member of The Rebel Legion:  be part of one of the Rebel Legion group photos, at a major event!

My first experience with The Rebel Legion group photo was at Celebration II; but I wasn’t a member yet. I’d missed the Rebel Legion group picture at Celebration III, because I was working for Official Pix that morning; and I’ve missed the two Celebrations in between leading up to this.  The closest that I’ve come was opening weekend of “Where Science Meets Imagination” over at COSI; which many would argue was a major event.  Don’t get me wrong; COSI was awesome -- first time I got to troop with a bunch of Rebel Pilots from outside of (then) Midwest Base -- which was a weekend I’ll never forget.  While COSI was (to this day) one of the largest local events we’d ever hosted, what I’m looking for is to be part of a Rebel Legion group picture that attracted people from all over the world!

photo courtesy of BrianKenobi

So on Friday morning at Celebration VI, all of us from Great Lakes Base got suited up in our favorite Rebel costumes and made our way to the main lobby of the Orange County Convention Center -- where Great Lakes Base would be meeting for a group picture, followed by the main Rebel Legion group photo.  For the GLB group photo, we were the first Base to get together for a photo op -- plus we had one of the largest contingents of members showing up for a Base photo: three Wookiees, several Jedi and Clonetroopers, a pair of Rebel Pilots, about half a dozen Face Characters.  That’s not even counting the people who missed the group photos, because they were at the CLONE WARS panel or other events going on during CVI.

Then came time for the Rebel Legion group photo op, which let me tell you is like trying to herd kittens -- half just go wherever they want!  Slowly, all the various costume subgroups within The Rebel Legion began to fall into place: Rebel Pilots in the center, Jedi to the right, Clones and other Rebel Troopers to the left, then filling up the front rows with Face Characters and members of Legion Command Staff.  I’d camped out a spot to the side – over in the Rebel Pilot section – and was trying to help shuffle some of the smaller pilots to the front; because after 12 years of school class pictures, the last thing I wanted is for a fellow Rebel Pilot to get home and find out their “bucket list” will have to wait… because they got stuck behind the 6’ 2” tall guy from Ohio!

Once everyone was assembled, and while a few people jockey for the BEST position to be seen in the picture (don’t think the rest of us didn’t notice ;) ) Commander Cody and the Rebel Legion Council handed out “Rebel of the Year”, “Costumer of the Year” and “Base Commander of the Year” awards.  Congratulations to all the winners!

Then came the moment I’d been waiting (nearly 8 years) for…

photo courtesy of The Rebel Legion

* Participated in a Rebel Legion group photo, at a major event = CHECK!