from the Legion In Memory of Luis Draco (BH-5822) The Legion regrets to announce the loss of Luis Draco (BH-5822) of the 501st Star Garrison. Luis was working as a civilian contractor in Iraq when he was killed by a mortar, leaving behind a daughter and fiancee. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the... Bryan Humphrey Inducted as Friend of the Legion Iowa-based photographer Bryan Humphrey was inducted as a Friend of the Legion on February 26, 2010, in recognition of his extensive work supporting the 501st and Rebel Legion with free professional photography at various events. The 501st Central and... NASA Event Cancelled The 501st Legion regrets to announce that its participation at the Kennedy Space Center space shuttle launch event planned for April 5, 2010 has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances surrounding event coordination. The Legion looks forward to... Jeremy Bulloch's "Fettish" Helmet The 501st TK Project for Make-A-Wish is well underway and Jeremy Bulloch (501st member and Star Wars actor) has completed and returned his contribution, a Boba Fett-inspired autographed helmet . Although all of the blank Stormtrooper helmets donated... TK-210 for 2010 While this month's 2010-2011 election period progresses for the Legion's Garrisons, Outposts, Squads and Detachments, Legion Founder Albin Johnson ( TK-210 ) was the sole candidate for the Legion Commanding Officer position and will continue his... 501stCast Episode 52 Now Playing In this episode of the official 501st podcast, the Legion reciprocates the love for "America's Next Top Model," our troops continue the Adidas Originals Star Wars promotions, we spend some quality time with Weird Al Yankovic, and NASA... 501st Escorts Snoop Dogg for Adidas As part of the ongoing Adidas Originals Star Wars Collection launch, members of the 501st Empire City, Northeast Remnant, New England and Carida Garrisons stormed the streets of New York City with rapper Snoop Dogg in a flash mob promotional event on... Timberline Garrison Approved The last new unit application of the 2009-2010 Legion administration has been approved, and the states of Idaho and Montana (previously under the jurisdiction of the Alpine Garrison ) have formed their own unit, the 501st Timberline Garrison. Click... In Memory of Rob Trotman (TR-7080) The 501st Legion regrets to announce the passing of Florida Garrison member Rob Trotman ( TR-7080 ). "Little Red" was part of the Makaze Squad and an active member of the Sovereign Protectors Detachment. Our deepest condolences to all of... Star Wars Artist Brian Rood Joins TK Project With the addition of Star Wars artist Brian Rood , TK Project coordinator Chris TB-111 reports that he is now officially out of helmets. Each blank Stormtrooper helmet donated by eFX Collectibles has been shipped out to an artist or celebrity to be...

from the MWG February 7, 2010 Trooper Spotlight on Phyllis Schulte Spotlight is on our NEW GARRISON CHARITY LIASON, Phyllis Schulte, aka TI/TK-1951! Phyllis is known for her skill with a needle and thread as can be seen by her incredible Rebel costumes. She's a multiple recipient of TotM and with good reason. You'd be hard-pressed to find a MWG member that is as caring and dedicated as Phyllis. I know you have a TK as far as imperial costumes are concerned, but I am fairly certain you prefer your rebel costumes. I can think of a bunch that you have (the Hoth trooper is my favorite), but can you do me a favor and list all of those incredible rebel costumes you have, and just briefly tell us the biggest challenge you had with each one? Jedi - 5 different tunic sets Rebel Fleet Trooper Yavin Tech gray version Yavin Tech tan version Hoth Trench Trooper Hoth Hangar Trooper Hoth Tech Endor Rebel Commando X-Wing Pilot Smuggler For the Imperial side of things I just have TK and ID. The Hoth Trench Trooper was far and above the most difficult costume I have done. There were no tutorials, little reference material, dozens of pieces and you had to make EVERYTHING from scratch. Out of those, which is YOUR favorite and why? Jedi remains my favorite because Jedi simply do kick serious butt and in a way, they are like me and in tune to nature and all living things around them. What got you into costuming with the Rebel Legion and the 501st, and how long have you been a member of both? Again, it has all to do with Jedi. I have been a SW fan since the beginning (I was 26 years old when "A New Hope" came out..and I was in awe) but it was not until Episode One when Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi Wan Kenobi stepped on to the screen and showed us what Jedi in their prime could actually do that I found that I just HAD to have a Jedi costume. I had never sewn before or had a sewing machine so I sewed my first Jedi costume by hand with no idea of what I was doing. When attempting to make my costume better I found my first costume group which was "The Jedi Assembly". I joined them in 2002 when they started. I found out about the 501st and the Rebel Legion at Celebration II in Indianapolis. I was blown away by all of costumes. Like a doofus, I entered the Costume Contest at C2 with my really crummy (at the time) Jedi costume and I happened to meet a certain Imperial Officer and her daughter Quincy. That Imperial Officer was, of course, Kathy Van B. Her Officer looked so spiffy that I said...man...I have GOT to have me one of those. I joined the 501st with my Officer in 2004. I have been a member of the Rebel Legion since Aug. 2002. What has been your most memorable event and why? Most memorable - "Max's Wish". It is still hard to believe that Max is gone and also was a testament on what we can accomplish as a group. Close second is the Camp Quality event. Each and every event, however, is always memorable for me and I feel really lucky to have been able to do so many. Tell us something about yourself that most people may not know? (hobbies, etc...) Most everyone knows already that I am a volunteer restoration tech for the FPDWC and have been actively restoring about 300 acres for nearly 20 years. To that end I am a licensed Wildfire Fighter, Chainsaw certified, Pesticide Operator and Applicator, and butterfly monitor. As an avid home gardener I preserve a lot of fruit and vegetables from my garden..I even ferment and put up my own sauerkraut. I am also a gear head and though I can't afford it anymore, I used to race and show my 1964 GTO regularly in the 1970's. I still have the GTO - but sadly-it is not running right now. Any plans for any new costumes in the near future, Rebel or otherwise? 5 Costumes ago I said I was not making anymore costumes....lol...so who knows.. I have had my eye on the Naboo Pilot. But really next is the Hoth Snowspeeder Pilot which is a couple items that are added to my X-Wing Pilot to make it a Snowspeeder Pilot. What is your favorite part about being a part of the 501st/Rebel Legion? I think that it is the fact that we can make a charitable impact doing something we actually love doing. Again, events like Max's, Isaac's, Camp Quality and the T-Ratts game spring to mind. It is also the reaction of "Star Wars Fans". SW fans are so incredible and always soooooo happy to see us. Anything else that you wanted to add about yourself? No...not really. I am already a "blabbermouth" on the boards. (She's not...) January 26, 2010 1st Annual MWG Formal Awards Banquet January 23, 2010 1st Annual MWG Formal Awards Banquet MISSION REPORT BY: Cheryl "Whinter" Whitaker (TI/TB-3127) Wow! What can I say? This was definitely a night to remember. Yes, this was the MWG’s First Annual Formal Awards Banquet, and what a night it was! The tables in the Maple Room at the Double Tree Hotel in Downers Grove, IL were draped with white linen tablecloths and sprinkled with shiny multi-colored and Star Wars confetti, along with homemade chocolate Star Wars candy and personalized candles for each guest. And in the middle of each table…balloon bouquets representing the colors of the 501st Legion… Red, White and Black. As guests started rolling in, they were greeted at the door by TK-118 (Tom Schaefer) with his camera so that he could capture a snapshot of everyone in their formal attire; something none of us are used to seeing each other in! I think that was part of the fun of it! Not only did we have many of our Midwest Garrison and Wisconsin Squad members there with their spouses/significant others, but we also had several members from the Central Garrison and the Central and Nar Shaddaa Bases of the Rebel Legion there as well. It was like one huge family gathering. For the first hour of the banquet, there was a vegetable table set up for the guests to enjoy until dinner was served. In the background, the DJ (our very own Joe “River” Rivera CC-3166) had the familiar songs/sounds from the entire Star Wars saga playing softly throughout dinner. There was also a PowerPoint presentation being projected throughout the night on a large screen that continually looped through a photographic review of all the events the Garrison participated in throughout 2009. It was a great way to re-live all the great memories and fun we all had together. What a year! After dessert we began the next stage of the evening…the Awards. As of January 1, 2009 we began something new; award pins based on the number of troops a member participates in. Members with 10 troops are awarded a bronze MWG pin, a silver pin for 25 troops and a gold pin for 50 or more. This year we awarded 26 members their bronze award pins and 4 members received their silver pins. In addition to the trooping awards, we thought it would be fun to hand out “funny” certificates for all of the 501st and Rebel Legion members in attendance. Some of these included awards like the “Jar-Jar Binks Award” for being the most animated comedian of the group, or the “Obsessive Texting Award” for the trooper most likely to text you while standing in the same room, and the “One Man Grand Army Award” for the trooper with the most events trooped in the year. There was also a very special award that we gave out called the “Golden Trooper Award”. This award was given to Patrick Higgins (TX-3697) this year for his success in arranging for the group to make several appearances in a couple of the local children’s hospitals; a task that we had been trying to accomplish for quite some time. In March of 2009 Patrick also had a very special role in granting a terminally ill little boy (Max Lacewell) his greatest wish…to battle Darth Maul. Not only did he play the part of Darth Maul to battle this bright-eyed 5 year old, but when he had his head shaved in order to portray the Sith Lord, he did it for St. Baldrick’s Foundation (another charity for childhood cancer) and raised over $600 for the cause. He also painted an incredible picture of he (in his Darth Maul) and Max in a Jedi costume to reflect the great battle between them. It was a beautiful painting that Patrick poured his heart into. It saddened us all terribly when Max lost his battle with DIPG (brain tumor) on July 4, 2009, but we know Patrick was really crushed by his passing. The Golden Trooper Award was the best way we could think of to recognize this amazing trooper with a true Heart of Gold. Then there was one “Honorary Friend of the Legion” and one “Honorary Member of the Midwest Garrison” inducted at the banquet. The “Honorary Member of the Midwest Garrison” Award went to a very special Rebel (yes, I said “REBEL”), and his name is Thomas “Crix” Turner. Crix hasn’t been with the Rebel Legion very long, but he has done so much in such a short period of time, including being the event coordinator for a parade in Dwight, IL. We have nothing but the utmost respect for this X-Wing Pilot. He has a huge heart and is always helping out wherever and whenever he can at both the Nar Shaddaa Base of the Rebel Legion and the Midwest Garrison of the 501st. I believe Crix is currently working on another Rebel costume, as well as finishing up a Royal Guard costume to eventually become a full 501st member. But until then, he will remain a very special “honorary” member in our eyes. Our “Honorary Friend of the Legion” Award went to a huge Star Wars fan, as well as a huge 501st fan, Mrs. Adrianne Curry-Knight. Adrianne and her husband, Chris came to Chicago Comic-Con back in August, where many of us got to know more about Adrianne’s love for Star Wars. One of the days during the convention, she donned her Slave Leia costume and expressed her desire to build a 501st costume. She is now in the process of completing her Imperial TIE Pilot costume and becoming a full member of the 501st Legion. If you would like to see Adrianne’s interview with StarWars.com, you can do so at the following link: http://www.starwars.com/fans/rocks/20100108.html The last group of awards that were given out that evening were given to many of our members’ spouses or girlfriends; “The Stand by your Trooper Award”. We just can’t express enough how much we appreciate these ladies. Many of them come out to several of the events and help out wherever they can. They often help with costume support, being the event photographer, or helping with whatever else happens to come up. They are truly a vital part of the group and we can’t thank them enough for being there for all of us. Once the awards were over, it was time for the group picture and then… time to DANCE!! It was a great turnout for our 1st Annual Formal Awards Banquet. I can only hope that more members can join us for our SECOND one! December 14, 2009 Trooper Spotlight on Cheryl Whitaker The spotlight is on our Garrison XO, Cheryl "Whinter" Whitaker... aka TI/TB-3127... Cheryl was appointed XO not to long ago, but has always been someone that could be looked to for support and guidance for many members... or just let loose and have a good time as see here... So first and foremost... how has it been for you since you were named XO? Did you ever have any plans on eventually assuming any "command" roles such as that? How has it changed being a part of the 501st for you, if at all? Truthfully, I really don’t feel any different. I’ve always been very involved in the group; now I just happen to have a “title”. As far as if I had ever had any plans of assuming any “command” role… No, that was something I would’ve never expected. But I am truly humbled that Aimee has such confidence in me for the position. I guess that the one thing that has changed for me since accepting the XO position is that I do tend to get more e-mails & text messages, but that’s really about it. I know as far as Imperial costumes you have a tie pilot and a scout... if you could do another one, any one... what would it be? Wow, that’s actually a tough one for me. I’ve always loved the Stormtrooper costume, but I’m way too short to be one. I’d never hear the end of that famous “Aren’t you a little short for a Stormtrooper?” line. So I suppose that one is out. Hmmm. I’m really not sure what my next one would be. I guess I’ll figure it out when the costume “bug” bites me again. And since you have *ugh* a rebel costume as well... do you have a favorite Star Wars costume overall? Yep! While I do still love my Jedi costume and everything it stands for, as well as being a member of the JRS and Black Widow Squadron with my TIE Pilot, I would have to say that my Scout is definitely my favorite (in case you guys haven’t figured that one out yet). It’s about as close as I can come to being a Stormtrooper without actually being one, and the Scout helmet is great for visibility (as far as helmets go). I love being in the armor, and even though it has more of it than my TIE Pilot, it’s actually much more comfortable and believe it or not, even a little cooler (temperature wise) than any of my other costumes that I own. The Scout was actually the first Imperial costume that I wanted to do, but I was afraid I couldn’t really afford it and ended up starting with my TIE. What I didn’t realize was that both the TIE Pilot and the Scout ended up costing me just about the same amount anyway. That’s ok. That just means that I ended up with TWO great Imperial costumes instead of just one. What got you into the 501st and how long have you been a member? Well, I’d say that it was more of a “who” than a “what” that got me into the 501st; and that “who” is Phyllis “Schph Gochi” Schulte. I always tell her that it’s all her fault... I first met Phyllis at a Chicago Force (fan force) function back on May 31st of 2003. She was in her Jedi costume and we got to talking about it. I had made one for myself as a Halloween costume the prior year and it was nowhere near the quality of hers. One day she came over to my house to see it and helped me over the next several months to bring it up to the standards of the Jedi Assembly so I could become a member and come out and do events with her. The rest is history. I was completely hooked. I finished my first approved Jedi costume and joined both the Jedi Assembly and the Rebel Legion in January of 2005, added my Rebel Fleet Trooper costume in March of 2007 and then became a full member of the 501st Legion in May of 2007 with my TIE Pilot. It wasn’t until October of 2008 that I finished my latest costume addition… Biker Scout. What was your favorite troop you ever attended and why? I don’t think I’ve ever really been to a troop that I didn’t enjoy. However, there is one event that stands out that really meant a lot to me, as I know it did to a lot of troopers… the Fundraiser/Fun-Fair for Max Lacewell in March of 2008. Everyone in the Garrison reached out for this little boy and his family, whether it was by physically being there to troop the event, donating items for the fundraising raffle (even if they weren’t able to be there in person), providing wonderful gifts for Max, and being able to grant a dying child’s greatest wish of battling one of the greatest Sith Lords in the Star Wars saga… Darth Maul. It was quite a day for Max, his family and all of us. I will never forget it, or Max. Coke or Pepsi? (ok, I just threw that in there as a joke) Coke. LOL!! Are there any upcoming events you are looking forward to or wanted to talk about? I’m really looking forward to the 501st Banquet on January 23, 2010 in Downers Grove. It will be a great opportunity for all of us to get together OUT of costume to just relax, talk, have fun and get to know each other better. There usually isn’t much of an opportunity for us to do that at most events, and so many of us live so far away from each other that it’s not as easy to just “hang out” as much as we’d like to outside of events. What do you do when you're not running around (or into trees... being a scout and all) in one of your costumes? Well, I’ve worked at the corporate office for 7-Eleven, Inc. for almost 14 years now (as a Construction and Facilities Assistant, as well as a Facilities Manager for about 4 of those years). When I’m not working or doing events, I’m spending time with my family and friends. Something about you that most people in the garrison may not know (hobbies, accomplishments in life, etc)? I have two children (of the furry feline kind). Hee Hee. They are a 3 year old brother and sister team and their names are Vader and Sophie. Gee, can you guess what color Vader is? I used to play the trumpet (and yes, I played the Star Wars theme on it) until I lost it and everything else in a Thanksgiving Day fire back in 1983. Thank goodness, my family and I got out unharmed, but everything else was lost in the fire. We had a lot to be thankful for that year. Oh yeah! And if you ever get a chance to go to Alaska, GO! It’s beautiful! I went on a cruise back in 2001 with a couple of my friends. That is one place I would certainly go to again if I had the chance. Hobbies: I love to take pictures and am learning more about Photoshop and what kind of creative things I can do with my photos. Sketching is another thing I like to dabble in from time to time. I just haven’t had much time to do it lately. Fun Fact – My mom and George Lucas share the same birthday… May 14th. Hmmm. Omen? Finally, is there anything else you wanted to add that I didn't ask....? No. I think I’ve rambled on enough. October 23, 2009 Trooper Spotlight on Kent Heath The next Trooper Spotlight shines on our very own Kent Heath. Kent, or TK/TI/DZ/TS/ID/TR-1692 (wow!), is a Midwest Garrison Member from Peoria, IL. Chances are, if there is a trooper that needed help with something in that area, they are familiar with Kent. He has been a major help with getting new recruits in the southern part of Illinois armored up and showing them the ropes... so without further adieu: How long have you been a part of the Midwest Garrison? I have been an official member of the MWG since 2005 when I moved back to Illinois. Before that I was a member of the Central Garrison even though all the events that I went to were MWG. What costumes do you have? Are you working on any new ones? What are your favorites? Costumes that I have-too many. I received a new nickname from Kyle Dorethy (TI-4982)-I'm the Tom of Peoria. I have a Tusken Raider, a Royal Guard, a TIE Pilot/Off-Duty TIE, Imperial Officer, Stormtrooper, and Snowtrooper for the Imperial side. I have an Obi Wan Kenobi (EP III) that i am still working with and trying to make better. And I also have a Rebel Fleet Trooper. I think my favorite costume is my Snowtrooper. It is the first costume that I really built. I had a good friend help with my Stormtrooper to first join the legion but he pretty much handled everything and incased me in it and snapped my photo. The Snowtrooper has been the most gratifying because I took it from kit to finished product by myself. I even made my first holster for the snowtrooper, weathered the armor and everything. What is your favorite part about trooping an event? The camaraderie first of all. There are many organizations that I have joined and participated with over the years and made many friends with members of those organizations. But I have built some solid friendships with people in this group and they have been a blessing in my life. I only hope that I can return that favor to my friends. And then, there is the magic. There is something magical in our armor totes. I truly believe it. The feeling you get when a bunch of troopers make an appearance is incredible. And I have to tell you, even though I know the trooper under that black helmet-when I am standing next to Darth Vader, I feel like I am 6 yrs old all over again and I believe it is Darth Vader. What is your favorite event that you have coordinated in the past year and why? My favorite event has been the Autism Walk. My good friend at work has 2 children with Autism and I never realized the impact it has on a parent until I attended a meeting before the walk. I learned so much from this meeting and it is now my second favorite troop next to the Relay for Life. The Relay has always been special and will always remain one of the most important events that I attend and take part in. The Autism Walk is special to me because of my friend and how much his kids love Star Wars. It turns out that many autistic children love Star Wars and I love doing things for children who love Star Wars. I even give more candy at Halloween to kids in Star Wars costumes. Something about you that most people may not know? I am a Scuba Diver and I hope to complete my Advanced Open Water certification this year and then work to get Rescue Diver qualified next year. Anything non-501st related that you want to share? What do you do for a living? family? other interests? etc... I am a Cytotechnologist and I perform preventative Cancer screenings and assist with diagnosing cancer. I have a Master's Degree in Business Organizational Leadership and I am member of the Jaycees. I have worked on political campaigns and I love politics and history. One day I just might run for a political office. August 20, 2009 Trooper Spotlight on James Tampa For the very first Trooper Spotlight, we're taking a look at James Tampa aka TI/TB-1020, the mastermind behind successful Droid Hunts at Wizard World for the past two years, our garrison newsletter (check out the most recent one!), as well as bringing his charm and outgoing personality to troops. Given the huge success of the Droid Hunt at Wizard World, as well as Jim’s continuing effort on the garrison newsletter, it seemed appropriate to shine the first spotlight on him: What got you into the 501st? How long have you been a member? I’ve actually been a part of the 501st Legion since October of 2001 (don't let the November 2004 in my MWG profile fool you . . . I've been around since the Scott Hawkins days), and I first learned of the 501st through Chris Romines when I began my search for Biker Scout armor. Chris in turn directed me to Michael Washko (TK-895) once I ultimately decided to work on a Vader costume instead of the Scout. It was at this point that I learned of the Midwest Garrison, and have been costuming ever since. What is your favorite thing about being a part of the MWG? The camaraderie when everyone gets together for an event or armor party. This, and seeing the expressions on faces both young and old when we all make an appearance. What kind of work went into the Droid Hunt? Constant e-mails and phone calls between the sponsors to make sure everyone was on board and how they were going to contribute (after I finally established contact with them). I also worked closely with Thomas Spanos on the artwork for the DH badges and with Augie for the Jedi Mind Trick cards, both of whom were absolutely stellar to work with! Once I had designed the badges and card art, they had to go through Legion and LFL approval before they could be printed; as soon as I heard back from Lesley Farquhar from Legion on the artwork being approved by LFL and her, I went through the process of prepping the files to be uploaded to the different vendors. I also worked with the Landyard Store (dot com) again this year for our lanyards, which were paid for by DK Publishing (along with the badges and Mind Trick cards). I also compiled a list of troopers who had signed up either on the attendance thread or in the DH trooping thread to use as a tally sheet (I'll need more room next year!). Signs based off the banner design I did were also printed for the table since the banner didn't come in on time (but we can use it for future events should DK sponsor us again) . Once the prizes had come in from LFL and Sideshow, I had to determine how much the prizes all retail for and tier them out when it came time to do the raffle. Anything you want to add about the Droid Hunt? i.e. ... how did it go, did anything stand out about this particular one for you, etc... Jennifer Loomis was simply awesome again this year by taking the reins of running the DH at the table! She also kept track of which troopers brought in X amount of tickets and badges back, and the race for 1st place was really on for Saturday between Anthony and Kathy! I must give special props to my wife, Jessi for not only helping out with the DH table on Saturday, but also for helping me hand punch and hook the lanyards on all the badges. The Droid Hunt went extremely well this year, and we had many people come to the table early on Friday looking for the badges to play again this year. We did have a lot of repeat players from last year, who were all eager to play again. Thank you to Kathy for all the raffle tickets, to Jennifer for all her hard work at the table, to our sponsors: DK Publishing for covering the costs on the badges, cards, and banner; Sideshow Collectibles for all the wonderful prizes and $125,000 worth of gift cards; LFL for the incredible prizes from their archives; Sandtroopers.com for the Attakus Sandtrooper prize, to all who had a hand in getting us space & organizing/set-up at the convention, and to all the troopers who had fun playing the game this year! Next year should prove to be even better! Anything non-501st related that you want to share? What do you do for a living? family? other interests? etc... After attending the American Academy of Art in Chicago (1993), I found a job doing freelance digital coloring for comic book companies such as Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse, and Topps. I also worked on two full-length feature horror films as Art Director. Ten years later after working in the advertising industry, I am now working for a publishing company designing book covers, typesetting, and managing the art department at Medallion Press in St. Charles, IL. I am happily married and live in Aurora, IL, with one daughter, and a Siberian Husky. You can view my artwork on deviantART: http://jtampa.deviantart.com/gallery/ Anything else you want to add that I may not have asked here yet? If you haven't seen the recent issue for the MWG Newsletter, it's up on our main site in the Downloads section! Other than that, I'm just looking forward to the Star Wars Concert and Celebration 5! So there you have it! A little bit of an inside look at TI/TB 1020... if you have time check out the newsletter that he cranked out in record time, and come back soon for our next Trooper Spotlight! July 2, 2009 Chicago Comic Con / Wizard World Join us at Wizard World Chicago Comic Con August 6th - 9th at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL. Show hours are: Thursday - 4pm - 8pm (Preview Night) Friday - 10am - 7pm Saturday - 10am - 7pm Sunday - 10am - 5pm Booth assignments: Both the 501st and Rebel Legion will be located at #2614 Most of the Km4KT fundraisers involve people running in events to raise money for Make-A-Wish, but in an effort to reach out, the Midwest Garrison will be presenting this quilt for auction, on display at the Midwest Garrison’s booth at Wizard World/Chicago Comic Con this year (2009). The actual auction method has not yet been determined. The quilt is approximately 45” wide by 54” tall. The quilt is boxed in an archival quality, dye/acid free box, wrapped in tissue paper. The quilt was made by Jennifer Loomis and Anthony Day, members of the Midwest Garrison. And don't forget to stop by our booth and pick up your droid badges for the hunt! May 4, 2009 501st Announces First Ever Trooper of the Year From the Commander I would like to announce the winner of the first ever Trooper of the Year award, bestowed this Legion Day and hopefully every Legion Day to follow: TK0523 Barry Benecke II of the Midwest Garrison and TK4619 Eric Seemann of the Empire City Garrison Barry and Eric distinguished themselves this year by taking risks and sacrificing the time, energy, money, effort, and their own bodies to help save the lives of fellow Star Wars fans who were both in dire need of a kidney transplant. Both of these valiant and humble troopers made the decision to offer a kidney to someone who's life utterly depended on it, and in doing so ensured that they would live long lives and continue to be there for their loved ones. In Eric's case, his kidney went to a fellow Legion member Jeff Romanoff TK0076, former CO and one of the founding members of Garrison Carida - a man whose story of struggle with cancer and kidney failure have been well known in the Legion. Barry and Eric exemplify the highest traits of giving, service, and personal sacrifice that the Legion aspires to. We create this award and honor them with it to recognize just how much higher our apirations have become thanks to troopers such as they. We give this award with no less than the highest regard and respect, and salute them as heroes in their own right. Join me in congratulating these two men, Troopers of the Year for 2008. Albin, LCO May 1, 2009 Happy 501st Day... So why is today 501st day...It's May first or 5/01. Here are some ways you can show your 501st Day Spirit: 1. If you are a Clone, twitter 501 of your closest mates 2. If you are a Sith, consider the 501 things you hate the most 3. If you are a Jedi imagine 501 of your closest allies all simultaneously leveling their weapon on you after receiving a twitter April 22, 2009 Get Well Soon... The Midwest Garrison wishes our good friend Aaron Allston a speedy recovery. March 26, 2009 MWG and The Fate of the Jedi... By Phyllis Schulte Star Wars fans are the greatest... Star Wars costumers are the greatest.. and... I can add -without a doubt... Star Wars authors are the greatest. They never disappoint.. The next chapter in the extraordinary history of the Star Wars galaxy begins here... Aaron Allston is the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Exile; two Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines novels: Rebel Dream and Rebel Stand; novels in the popular Star Wars X-Wing series. Members of the Midwest Garrsion of the 501st, the Midwest Base of the Rebel Legion, R2 Builders, Chicago Force Book Club and the Indy Knights from Indianapolis all joined forces to welcome Aaron Allston to the Chicago area to launch the new series of books "Fate of the Jedi" with the first book being Aaron's "Outcast". Many members arrived early and amused themselves till it was time to suit up. Mr. Allston was at the Borders in Oakbrook early to do some interviews and a Pod cast. He was also on hand in the back room to sign our member's books. Just before the event started, Mr. Allston was gracious and took many group photos for us and all of the fans that gathered at the store. At 7:30 PM our troops escorted Mr. Allston to the signing area and rather than do a reading from the book he told some great stories of his life in the "Star Wars" galaxy. Q & A followed as members of the gallery asked some really great questions. It was obvious that Mr. Allston posesses great humor and passion for his characters as he answered all of the questions. He added that this series of books will be on the lighter side but filled with the adventures that we have all come to know and love. Aaron Allston signs R2-S5's dome After the Q & A portion, it was time to sign books! I stood off to the side during much of the signing. Mr. Allston answered a lot more questions from all that came to have their books signed and was just about the easiest going person you would ever want to meet.[/i] And the winner is... Election Season Is Not Over Yet! One of the Empire's Finest ~ Phyllis Schulte view all blog entries... Powered by phpBB Blog.

Events May 13th 2010 Motor City Comic Con May 14th-16th 2010 Jul 23rd 2010 Peoria, Il. Peoria Air Show JULY 24/25 Events By Month >> Where's Everyone Else? The Midwest Garrison serves Illinois and Wisconsin. If you're looking for other troops elsewhere, click above to explore where more troopers may be! A Garrison Among the Roses Several members of the Midwest Garrison were lucky to have been chosen to participate in the 118th Tournament of Roses celebration in Pasadena. Read about some of their exploits. 501st Legion Wisconsin Squad