One Man Star Wars Trilogy

Photo courtesy of
Croswell Opera House

Recently, Charlie Ross brought his "One Man Star Wars Trilogy" show to The Croswell Opera House.  Moff D sent in this transmission:

**activate R2 unit hologram**

"Members of the Great Lakes Base and Great Lakes Garrison lent a helping hand to the One Man Star Wars show on April 21 in Adrian, MI.  Some Rebel Pilots, Stormtroopers and a couple of Tusken Raiders provided some Star Wars ambience before and after the show, not that much help is needed when seeing Charlie Ross’ kinetic and hilarious one hour take on the original trilogy.  All of the favorite moments, from Luke glancing longingly at the twin suns of Tatooine to Admiral Ackbar’s “It’s a trap” line are contained in the show.  Charlie did a fantastic job with voices and characterizations while managing to play with the audience at opportune moments.  The crowd was receptive and boisterous, so much so that Charlie actually did Luke-getting-knocked-off-the-Tauntaun twice at the crowd’s urging.  He had never received a good ovation at that point in the show and was happy to oblige."

"After the show, Charlie did some Q & A with the audience, relating how he started the show, how LFL permitted him to continue (their idea of an audition: performing the show in front of 4000 people at San Diego Comic Con) and doing a spot-on imitation of Smeagol from his One Man Lord of the Rings.  He would later spend some time in the lobby talking with fans and indulged the Rebel Legion and 501st members with a post-show get-together at a nearby restaurant.  It was a fun evening all-around, and if ever you have an opportunity to catch the One Man Star Wars show, don’t pass it up."

The toys are back in town!

Anyone who has grown up on Star Wars know that toys are as much a part of the "Star Wars" franchise as the movies they are based on.  So it makes sense when Great Lakes Base and Ohio Garrison were invited to the Columbus Toy Show -- held at Franklin County Veteran's Memorial Hall.

Photo courtesy of Col-Mas

Since 2001, the Columbus Toy Show has been a place where "jawas" from the Buckeye State gathered, in search of their prized toys and other collectibles from Star Wars, GI Joe and other childhood memories.  This event has become something of a semi-annual tradition for us and the assignment is fairly easy: look good and interact with people who enjoy Star Wars -- it's what we do!

Drazhar tells of how, "there was a great photo-op of Luke on the ground with a Tusken Raider standing over him, as several cheerleaders -- from a competition nearby, stopped to take photos.  Star Wars always has attracted all types, guess it continues to do so."

Mr. Olympia in Columbus!

Here's some trivia for you: did you know there was a bronze statue of Arnold Schwarzenegger at Veterans Memorial?  The placement of this statue does have historical significance as Veterans Memorial Hall has hosted the Arnold Sports Festival since 1989 -- along with other bodybuilding events involving Schwarzenegger since 1970.  The statue was recently revealed on the front lawn at Veteran's Memorial -- where the Columbus Toy Show was taking place -- so our guys just couldn't pass up the chance to get a picture next to "Mr. Olympia" himself!

The unusually windy spring day made for some interesting costuming moments according to Drazhar, "Vader and I both lost control of our cape/robe -- understand why superheroes shouldn't have them... now I do."

Wishes Can Happen

This past Good Friday was indeed a good day for the Great Lakes Base and Ohio Garrison to do some of the things we do best: help make children happy... and take LOTS of pictures.  And that is just what we set out to do at the Wishes Can Happen third annual Picture Party -- sponsored by Lee Spencer Photography.

Photo courtesy of
Lee Spencer Photography

This event has a deeply personal connection to the Spencer family.  Lee's sister Amy Lynn Spencer passed at the age of 16 and was one of WCH's first wish recipients.  Amy's wish was to learn to play the piano since she could no longer dance due to the chemo.  WCH granted her a piano and piano lessons.  The Spencer family has been very involved with WCH ever since. Three years ago, they came up with the idea to host the Picture Party fundraiser; as a way of returning the favor.  Tammy Anderson Spencer explains they wanted to, "give a family the wonderful memories that was given to our family by having a wish granted." Tammy went on to explain that several WCH families were in attendance at this year's event; some of whom had lost a child already and another family with a son currently in remission and doing well.

Wishes Can Happen!

As I'd mentioned at the start of this post, it's no secret that being a member of Rebel Legion -- you get used to being in plenty of pictures.  However, when guests at a WCH Picture Party get the chance to have a professional quality portrait done of their family -- you discover that you will likely be featured in more then just one Christmas card this year! (Star Wars costume included)  As people were having their pictures done -- often with a few Star Wars characters added in -- Lee Spencer Photography was uploading the finished photographs to the Facebook page; for fans to "tag" and "share" with anyone they wanted.

So far, Lee Spencer Photography has helped raise $4,725.00 for Wishes Can Happen; which is enough to grant at least one wish!!!

Wishes Can Happen is celebrating 30 years this year and they are completely volunteer based. WCH has never turned down a wish and mainly concentrates on granting wishes in Ohio.  To learn more about this wonderful organization, visit www.wishescanhappen.com

Cleveland POPS

Every fan knows -- deep in their heart -- that the music of John Williams is just as much a reason for the enduring legacy of the Star Wars franchise as the spaceship, planets and everything else that has transformed these films into a multi-generational icon.  The music of John Williams can be heard in everything from Star Wars, the Indiana Jones films, and even still today with the Harry Potter movies -- his music has became the soundtrack of our childhood.

Photo courtesy of jedi-seamstress

So when the Cleveland POPS Orchestra invited Great Lakes Base, Ohio Garrison and Mando Mercs to be part of their John Williams tribute concert, we couldn't pass this up.  For a few of us -- myself included -- this was a return to Severance Hall as we'd performed with the Cleveland POPS at a New Years Eve concert in 2006; the night before the Rose Bowl Parade celebrated Star Wars' 30th anniversary.  However, this was a new experience for most of our group; many of them had never even been inside Severance Hall before!  The Hall opened back in 1931 and was completely restored just over ten years ago.  When you walk into Severance Hall, you feel like you're walking back in time -- or just landed on Naboo.

Padme and Snipe

Before the show, Great Lakes Base and Ohio Garrison -- with troopers visiting from Great Lakes Garrison -- and Mando Mercs "invaded" the lobby at Severance Hall with 24 characters available for photos with concert guest.  Tonight's concert also hosted a collection drive for Harvest For Hunger.  Once the concert started, we had some downtime for our guys to practice their lightsaber routines and other on-stage performances -- because the Star Wars music wasn't until after intermission. 

If you know anything about BrianKenobi, you know that he's DREAMED of performing a three character lightsaber battle to "Duel of the Fates" from The Phantom Menace  for as long as anyone can remember.  The last time it was attempted, the guy playing Darth Maul hit his knee during rehearsal; and Brian has never had a chance to put the trio back together.  So when the Cleveland POPS added this song to the playlist, this was a chance at some personal redemption.  However, both qui-gon32 and Darth Maul live in Michigan... so HOW do you prepare for something like this?

Since qui-gon32 has just recently joined the "All Wings Report In!" blog team, I'm going to let Paul tell the rest of this story.. because for these three guys, "Duel of the Fates" was an experience of a lifetime!

Next up was something Carl Topilow (conductor of the Cleveland POPS) has wanted us to attempt -- going all the way back to the New Years Eve 2006 concert -- play "Yoda's theme" with a life-sized Yoda on stage!  Now, bear in mind, we get asked "where's Yoda?" ALL THE TIME when we troop at public events -- everyone loves Yoda!  The problem is that it's next to impossible to find a child who is willing to get dressed up... wear a rubber mask... AND walk across the stage -- on front of thousands of people.  Then you gotta hope they don't get hurt, or run off like in those "America Funniest Home Video - weddings gone WRONG" moments.  If I sound a little neurotic even talking about it -- after the fact -- imagine what was going on in my head as I opened the door for our little Jedi Master to make her way across the stage.  In fact, our little Yoda performed beautifully -- she stole the show!

Carl Topilow awarded a medal

If one dueling sequence wasn't enough for you, the POPS came right back with "Battle of the Heroes."  This time, Darth Vader #1 (yes, we had TWO of them -- more on that later) squared off against Jaster in a not quite literal interpretation of the climactic scene from Revenge of the Sith.  And there is no better way to end an evening but with the Rebel Legion's John Williams favorite on-stage performance "Throne Room" ending from Star Wars: A New Hope.  This is a chance for all the Rebels, Jedi Knights and Senators to take one last bow; darthmitsy presented Carl Topilow with the ceremonial medal (sorry Chewbacca) and we wished everyone a good night!

But then... the Empire showed up! *dramatic music*

C3P0 and Super-Carl!

Actually, we knew going in that the 501st would get their turn to take over the stage as "Imperial March" was one of the encores -- not listed on the program.  In what has become something of a concert tradition, Darth Vader #2 (SL-9134) from Ohio Garrison and his troopers assumed control of the Cleveland POPS Orchestra and lead them in the playing of his signature theme.  However, Carl Topilow had a surprise for the Sith Lord -- as he changed into a Superman costume (backstage) and chased away the Empire... leading into the theme from Superman: the movie.  Finally, charkboy's C3P0 delivered Topilow's reb/blue clarinet -- which ended the evening in a fun rendition of the Cantina Band -- as all the characters got fans on their feet and dancing in the aisles.

Cleveland POPS - John Williams tribute concert "Mission Photos"

Overall, the evening was a HUGE success -- and we'd like to thank Cleveland POPS for inviting us!

Some things are (still) worth putting a Galactic Civil War on hold for!

As I was checking Facebook this morning, I came across a photo posted by the 501st -- where members Star Garrison served as an honor guard at the funeral of a Make-A-Wish boy named Parker -- who they'd recently help grant his "wish" before his passing.

Originally, I had no intent of archiving any of my posts from that old blog, but there was one in particular that hit a nerve for me -- and I felt was my best work to date.  The following is a reposting from "Shadow 12 Standing By!" blog (dated Aug. 27, 2010) -- dedicated to the guys from Star Garrison -- about the TOUGHEST assignment any of us can take on!

Some things are worth putting a Galactic Civil War on hold for!

That's what I told one of Sam Bish's relatives when she commented on the diversity of the Great Lakes Base, Mando Mercs and Ohio Garrison members in attendance at Sam Bish's wake last night.

For those of you who remember my last blog posting -- we had recently surprised Sam at a private screening of Revenge of the Sith along with members of Sam's family and friends.  Sam's courageous battle with Osteosarcoma ended last weekend.  According to everyone I've talked with, Sam's favorite thing in the world was Star Wars... which means he's not much different then any of us!  Last night, the Bish family celebrated Sam's life at Schoedinger Funeral Home.

At the request of the family, several of our members showing up in full costume as we shared our sympathies with his parents (Michael and Cindy) and everyone who knew and loved Sam.  This was an emotional time for all of us who knew Sam.  And while nearly everyone from previous visits was back for the memorial service -- along with some new faces -- for some the pain was just too much to bear. That is in NO way a reflection on their love for Sam or dedication to their respective groups; this is the TOUGHEST assignment groups like our's can take on.

I introduced Sam's parents to the man who built their son's lightsaber -- and they explained how it was Sam's most prized possession, whose blade glowed almost as brightly as Sam's smile when he received it.  This brief exchange was a welcomed moment of relief during a time of great sadness.  Another guy who showed his love for Sam (in a personal way) was GLB's newest recruit -- Grumpy.  Within hours of learning about Sam's passing, Matt got to work on special "SB" black armbands for all the costumed characters to wear at Sam's memorial.  He even made special armbands for Sam's parents and his two sisters -- Aubrey and Caitlen.  Later, I learned that Matt had carved the initials "SB" in Aurebesh (the writing of the SW universe) into his clonetrooper armor as a permanent memorial to Sam. 

Very "Mando" if you ask me... nice job ner vod!

Then the time came for us to pay our final respects at Sam's casket.  Our jedi members of the honor guard entered, hoods up -- which is customary for jedi at such a sad occasion.  As the lone member of Shadow Squadron, I found myself tapping on the lid of Sam's casket as if saying: "Shadow One is four green and ready to fly!"  When it came to the 501st, each of the troopers removed their helmets as they passed the casket and took turns sharing their sympathies with Sam's parents.  There was no hiding the tears for many of us -- and that's ok, because some things are worth putting a Galactic Civil War on hold for!

Later I got into a conversation with Sam's aunt.  She'd stopped us on the way in to thank us all for coming and for becoming so close to Sam in his final days.  She'd mentioned that she was nervous about speaking at the funeral service (today) and didn't know what to say until she came across something about an "Odan-Urr" Jedi mantra? Once she read about this her response was, "That's Sam!" 

Now as the reigning local KING of Star Wars Trivial Pursuit, I'll admit: I had NO idea who/what the hell Odan-Urr was (thank you Wookiepedia) until she repeated part of it for me: 

There is no emotion, there is peace. 

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. 

There is no passion, there is serenity. 

(There is no chaos, there is harmony.)

There is no death, there is the Force.

Apparently, I've been repeating the "Odan-Urr" while running on the treadmill for years... and didn't know it? 

And she was right -- this was what Sam was all about. I handed her my "SB" armband and said, "I've got something to remind me of Sam every time I troop an event," pointing to my Shadow Squadron patch on my shoulder.  During our last visit, Sam was made a member of Shadow Squadron (call sign = Shadow One) and given his own squadron patch.  If the fact that my squadron patch is NEVER coming off -- because it reminds me of Sam -- results in that I'll never be approvable for some high-profile LFL event for Rebel Legion... oh well!  Some things are worth putting a galactic civil war on hold for.

If this whole experience has taught me anything, it can all be summed up with, "some things are worth putting a galactic civil war on hold for."  It's how you try and provide comfort to parents (including two GREAT Grandparents) at the lose of their child, it's how you befriend an amazing woman who's compassion for others can't be drowned out by tears, it's how you realize that we (as Star Wars fans -- or just as people) find the stupidest reasons to divide ourselves into opposing factions: 501st, Rebel Legion, Fanforce, Mando Mercs, Jedi Assembly... it's all the same! Our strengths are when we stand together as one community, one family!

"Some things are worth putting a Galactic Civil War on hold for!"

Friend of the Legion's Unexpected Destiny

by: Zrissa

What if...

You were just checking your email--like you do several times a day--and there's one from an online acquaintance.  You open it and it says something like this--

"Want to work on a licensed Star Wars project?"

We'd all LOVE to get that email.

Nah, never happen, not outside our dreams.   Except that is how Jonathan Stevens became a freelance game developer.  Like me and my family, Jon loves Star Wars and loves roleplaying games (RPGs).  He's played a lot of them, including all 4 versions of the Star Wars RPG.   RPG players often make up their own unofficial rules, adventures, characters, creatures and so on, all of which Jon does well.  He's created several downloadable sets of these over the years.  The latest is the well-received  "Donovan Morningfire's Big List of Star Wars Saga Edition NPCs"  (Disclosure:  Zrissa is the proofreader/beta reader/editor on this and most of his other unofficial projects.)

Which is perhaps why he got that email from Wizards of the Coast's Rodney Thompson--who started out as a fan running a site Jon frequented--offering him a gig writing for an upcoming Star Wars RPG sourcebook, Galaxy at War (2009) and followed up by The Unknown Regions (2010).    My family still remembers getting an excited call from Jon about this Star Wars gig he couldn't -- and didn't -- tell us anything about, not for months and months, until just before each sourcebook was released.
Jon also accomplished one very cool thing in The Unknown Regions -- he got a fanon creation promoted to canon.

What's "fanon"? All of us in the RL are familiar with Star Wars canon: all the official Star Wars elements from movies, TV and the Expanded Universe.  Fanon are characters, events, and so on created by fans.  It's very rare for fanon to be incorporated into Star Wars canon.  Probably the most well-known example is our sister organization, the 501st, "canonized" first by Timothy Zahn in "Survivor's Quest" and later in Revenge of the Sith.

In addition to writing game mechanics for The Unknown Regions, the developers created worlds complete with brief histories, ecologies, and histories, plus adventures set on those worlds.  Jon's favorite personal player character for Star Wars RPGs is Donovan Morningfire, a Jedi of the Prequel/Clone Wars and Rebellion times.  (The name is also Jon's online presence.)  While working on the planet O'Reen, Jon included a few lines about Jedi General Morningfire and his commandos defeating the planet's leader during a confrontation.   It made it past Wizards' and Lucasfilm Licensing's reviews and into print, thus canon.   Wow!

Jon lives in the Capital Area of New York state and posts on several websites, devoted to games and geekery -- most notably http://www.d20radio.com as, of course, Donovan Morningfire.  His blog is at http://jedimorningfire.blogspot.com/ and you can follow him on Twitter @donovan421

Jon Stevens joins the Rebel Legion*

Wookieecookiee from Dagobah Base and I inducted Jon as a Friend of the Rebel Legion on March 17, 2012 at AllCon in Dallas, Texas.  Aldaraan Base XO Clone Commander Fil (a friend of ours through D20 Radio) and my husband, Lon Mark,  were also co-sponsors.

* Photo Courtesy of Wookieecookiee and TR-5932

Mansfield Library

When you've been around the world of Star Wars costuming for as long as I have, you start to look for things at each venue that makes them unique/special in comparison to all the others.

GLB, OG and Mercs at Mansfield Library

So this past weekend, Great Lakes Base, Mando Mercs and Ohio Garrison were invited to the Mansfield Richland County Public Library as part of their "Star Wars Extravaganza" event.  On the surface, the mission sounds easy enough: we get dressed up, stand for a few pictures as kids as they play Star Wars-themed games the local library staff have come up with to spark interest in children reading more - Star Wars related or otherwise.  Last year, we trooped at 15 individual events (just in Ohio) at pubic libraries... so you'd assume these types of events would have become fairly routine?


The truth is, what makes each one of them unique and special isn't the "Star Wars characters" we volunteer our time providing, but the people who make those libraries part of their local community!  We have NEVER visited Mansfield before, and it showed in the looks on the faces of every kid (and even the parents) as they battled each other with balloon "lightsabers",  or playing "Trooper Bowling" (my favorite) and taking part in the Star Wars "scavenger hunt" throughout the library.

You can view pictures from all our adventures from the various "Jedi Archives" across Ohio (including some - courtesy of Mansfield Richland County Public Library)