And the March 2013 Legion Trooper of the Month is...
by Fleetfang on Wed May 01, 2013 9:50 pm
Denis Flotat, TK-7333 of French Garrison! Denis conceived and executed a new patch and coin database for use by Legion members around the world. His selfless sacrifice of time and energy for the benefit of all of his 501st brothers and sisters embodies the spirit of volunteerism that makes the Legion great!

Also being honored with nominations in March were Daan de Ruijter, TB-7021 of Dutch Garrison, who designed and laid out the garrison's entire trading card set; Patrick "Craygee" Sprague, TK-4594 of Garrison Tyranus, who has lent a helping hand in countless ways to fellow members and friends; and Bruce "Cyclops" Rennell, TK-51173 of Redback Garrison, who negotiated and secured the donation of a trailer to transport the garrison's props and sets!

Every one of these troopers went above and beyond in their efforts to make the Legion and the world a better place, and every one of them deserves our congratulations for jobs well done! Keep up the fantastic work, troops!

In Memoriam: Richard LeParmentier
by Fleetfang on Wed Apr 17, 2013 7:57 am
We pause and pay tribute at the passing of 501st Legion Honorary Member Richard LeParmentier, who will forever be known for his iconic portrayal of Admiral Motti in Star Wars: A New Hope, the first person to ever feel the Force at the hands of Darth Vader, and as a true friend to his many fans around the world.

On April 15th, fate and its sorcerer's ways took him from us, all too soon. On behalf of all members of the 501st Legion, we extend our deepest condolences and sympathy to his friends and family at this tragic time. You will be missed, Richard.

Buckets off, troopers.

Detachment, Sweet Detachment...
by Fleetfang on Sun Apr 14, 2013 5:30 pm
Several villainous Star Wars costumes have new homes in the Detachments of the 501st Legion.

Mos Eisley spy Garindan, cantina con artists the Tonnika Sisters, Jabba the Hutt's Gamorrean Guards and his majordomo Bib Fortuna, all previously bearing no Detachment affiliation, have been entrusted to the Krayt Clan Detachment.
Meanwhile, the expanded universe Snow Scout and Episode III Galactic Marine have been transferred to the Blizzard Force Detachment, where they will both have a new home with their cold-weather brethren.

If any of these costumes or characters have ever intrigued you, be sure to visit Krayt Clan or Blizzard Force today to get the guidance you'll need to recreate their costumes!

And the February 2013 Legion Trooper of the Month is...
by Fleetfang on Fri Mar 29, 2013 3:11 pm
Tray Nichols, TK-4251 of Garrison Carida!
When Mountain Garrison member Aaron Garber's wedding announcements were ruined in a freak Slurpee/Post Office accident, Tray surprised him with an offer of his services as a professional printer free of charge, his only concern being that Aaron and his fiancée get the replacement cards they needed without delay. Tray's generosity and willingness to help a Legion brother embodies the spirit of family in the 501st, and for that we honor Tray with Legion Trooper of the Month!
Congratulations also go out to Tharren Thompson CT-6051, also of Garrison Carida, for his cooordination efforts at Penn State's THON fundraiser, which raised a record $12.3 million this year to fight pediatric cancer!
Buckets off to you both!

Attention, Troopers! A Message from the LCO
by Fleetfang on Mon Mar 25, 2013 7:28 pm
Hello, members and fans of the 501st Legion!
This year promises to be one of the most productive and exciting years in the history of the 501st, and I am excited and honored to lead the Legion for it!

With the second Celebration Europe (CEII) right around the corner, we are embarking this year on a course to bring more attention to our international members by highlighting their local contributions to the 501st Legion's mission through social media and the www.501st.com site. We are requesting mission reports, video, and photos from our members and those in the public, which can be shared with us through various methods, including the feedback form on the main 501st website, or through localized message forums.

Be sure to Like our Facebook pages (www.facebook.com/The501stLegion and www.facebook.com/501stCharity) and follow us on Twitter @501stLegion to get our latest news and @501stCharity to read about the many amazing charity events that we do. And if you like your news on the go, don't forget about the 501stCast, the Legion's official podcast, with new episodes releasing every month at http://www.501st.com/podcast/

If you attend any comic or pop culture conventions, stop by and say hello to us and take a photo. Or participate in some of our activities like "Blast-a-Trooper" and the ever-popular "Droid Hunt!"

In addition to conventions and large scale events, our members work tirelessly to help promote and raise money for several charities and causes around the world. Giving back to the communities where our members live and putting a smile on the faces of children and adults is a large part of what we do. Community programs include visiting children’s hospitals, library days, school fairs and assemblies, and much more! Last year alone, the 501st Legion helped raise millions of dollars directly and indirectly for charities worldwide.

If you are hosting an event and would like the Legion to support you, you can submit a request for an appearance through our website at www.501st.com/request.php

Finally, With new Star Wars films being planned for release by Disney, we can expect to see the Legion grow in size and force over the coming years, as more and more people are introduced and re-introduced to the franchise we all know and love. New movies will bring with them new characters and costumes which will help the Legion grow in ways we have not seen since the release of the Prequel Trilogy.

For those interested in joining us, the 501st has Legion and Garrison Membership Officers who are available to lend support to aspiring troopers, and can put you in touch with our costume-specific Detachments, where you can get specialized guidance for creating a screen-accurate costume. All of the information you need to join the Legion can be found on www.501st.com.

And for those Star Wars fans who are 17 and under, the Galactic Academy provides an introduction to the world of Star Wars costuming. You can find out more at www.galactic-academy.com.

We look forward to meeting you at a local event or perhaps even welcoming you as a new recruit in our ranks! The future looks bright for the 501st Legion, and as Lord Vader once said, “We would be honored if you would join us!”

Aimee Jorgensen (TB 101)
501st Legion Commanding Officer
www.501st.com

Imperial March Madness!
by Fleetfang on Tue Mar 19, 2013 8:34 pm
In honor of the “March Madness” college basketball playoffs in the States, StarWars.com is holding a similar contest between the Light Side and the Dark Side... "This is Madness!" is the official tournament to decide the galaxy's most popular Star Wars character!

Make your choices and return every day for new match-ups and results, and be sure to visit the tournament page on Tuesday, April 9th, to see who is crowned the most popular Star Wars character in the galaxy!

The 501st Legion offers its wholehearted support to Lord Vader in his quest to dominate the competition! So cast your vote... It is your destiny!

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The 501st Legion is a worldwide Star Wars costuming organization comprised of and operated by Star Wars fans. While it is not sponsored by Lucasfilm LLC, it is Lucasfilm's preferred Imperial costuming group. Star Wars, its characters, costumes, and all associated items are the intellectual property of Lucasfilm. ©2013 Lucasfilm LLC & ™ All rights reserved. Used under authorization.