Date:
Saturday, December 16, 2017
12:00-2:00
5:00-7:00

Location:
Premier Cinema 10
Greenwood, SC

Description of Event (Please share as much info as you can):
John Wages trooped early (12:00-2:00), and I acted as his handler. For the 5:00-7:00 event, I was joined by Teddy Hatcher and Cory Wilson along with some non-affiliated Star Wars fans. Management was very accommodating, and fans of all ages were eager to have their pictures taken with us. Lots of fun.

Did this event support a charity? If yes, which charity?:
No

Event Length (Hours):
2

Carolina Garrison Members in Attendance:
1. Bryan Roller
2. Teddy Hatcher
3. John Wages

Handlers:
1. Dee Hatcher

Crossover Attendees from the Rebel Legion / R2 Builders Club / Mando Mercs:
1. Cory Wilson (RL)

Check out some of the event photos below:

Date:
December 14, 2017

Location:
21 Interstate Ct
Greenville, SC

Description of Event (Please share as much info as you can):
Members of the 501st Legion, Rebel Legion, Mandalorian Mercenaries, and R2 Builders were invited to appear on the Fox Carolinas Morning News to hype the release of The Last Jedi. We did interviews, some fun sketches with the news crew, and interacted with the anchors and crew in the news room. Lots of fun!

Did this event support a charity? If yes, which charity?:
No

Event Length (Hours):
3

Carolina Garrison Members in Attendance:
1. Bryan Roller – Imperial Staff Officer
2. Bryan Kihlmire – Snowtrooper Commander
3. Kevin King – Biker Scout

Handlers:
1. None

Crossover Attendees from the Rebel Legion / R2 Builders Club / Mando Mercs:
1. Genesis Garza (RL) Jedi
2. Rebecca Berger (RL) Rey
3. Kathleen Schreiner (MM) Bounty Hunter
4. Luke Kingsbury (MM) Bounty Hunter
5. Leanne Lane (RL) Admiral Ackbar
6. Andy Lane (R2) R2-AL
7. Cheralyn Lambeth (RL) Princess Leia

Check out some of the event photos below:

Date:
Black Friday, November 24, 2017

Location:
Walmart Super Center
300 Bypass 25 NE
Greenwood, SC

Description of Event (Please share as much info as you can):
This event was the official kick-off for the Salvation Army of Greenwood’s Red Kettle Campaign. The event was highlighted by an appearance by the Salvation Army Band playing The Imperial March, and a photo-op with the mayor and a county councilman. We were received enthusiastically by both Black Friday shoppers and the Salvation Army officials. We rang the bell, greeted shoppers, interacted with crowds, and posed for more pictures than anyone was willing to count. After the troop, we also made our way through Walmart to the toy department, where we took even more pictures and sometimes dropped a random Star Wars toy in someone’s cart. The event was capped off by a tour of Cory Wilson’s Star Wars room at his home in Greenwood. Seriously, the store in Disney’s Hollywood Studios doesn’t have this much Star Wars merchandise. If you get an invitation to see it, gladly accept.

Did this event support a charity? If yes, which charity?:
Yes, Salvation Army of Greenwood

Event Length (Hours):
3

Indirect Funds Raised (Total money raised by event):
TBD

Carolina Garrison Members in Attendance:
1. Bryan Roller
2. Mat Cohen
3. Teddy Hatcher

Handlers:
1. Dee Hatcher
2. Brendan Cohen

Crossover Attendees from the Rebel Legion / R2 Builders Club / Mando Mercs:
1. Cory Wilson (RL)

Check out some of the event photos below:

Salvation Army Band



Darth Vader directs the band...


Display Table


Better be good, kids! Shocky Claus is watching you...



Have you seen these droids?


Republic credits will be fine...


Charitable giving is strictly enforced by Lord Vader.


One of many enthusiastic fans...


The mayor and county councilman doing their part.


Bad guys doing the most good...


Yeah, he's a little short for blah, blah, blah!

Date:
October 13, 2017

Location:
Rudolph Gordon Elementary School
Simpsonville, SC

Description of Event (Please share as much info as you can): 
Gatorama is a carnival style fundraiser held annually at Rudolph Gordon Elementary School located on Scuffletown Road. Last year there were easily over 1000 in attendance. This year's crowd may well have eclipsed that number. There were rides, bounce houses, food, music, dancing, and LOTS of photo-ops.

Our hosts generously provided us with close parking spaces, a very spacious changing area, food and drink. Very accommodating. There were many pictures taken, dancing, the usual hijinks, and a great table display. Lots of fun!

Did this event support a charity? If yes, which charity?:
Yes, TBA

Event Length (Hours):
3

Direct Funds Raised? (Money raised directly by the Carolina Garrison):
TBA

Carolina Garrison Members in Attendance: 
1. Bryan Roller
2. Mat Cohen
3. Kevin King
4. Steve Firestine
5. John Wages

(LIST WILL EXPAND AS NEEDED)

Handlers: 
1. Brendan Cohen
2. Grayson DeWeil

Crossover Attendees from the Rebel Legion / R2 Builders Club / Mando Mercs:
1. Genesis Garza

Check out some of the event photos below:

































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Date:
October 7, 2017

Location:
Inn on the Square
Greenwood, SC

Description of Event (Please share as much info as you can):
Gathering of costumed characters, part of a larger event featuring costumed characters the early part of the day, then a Para-Con from the afternoon through the evening. I was the lone Legion trooper at this event. I was joined by a couple of local Star Wars enthusiasts, as well as the SC Ghostbusters and other costumed characters. Took lots of pictures with the kids.

Did this event support a charity? If yes, which charity?:
No.

Event Length (Hours):
4

Carolina Garrison Members in Attendance:
1. Bryan Roller

Check out some of the event photos below: (please post pictures rather than picture links)

Date:
September 21, 2017

Location:
Premiere Cinema 10
Greenwood, SC

Description of Event:
Grand re-opening of theater after renovations. Free food and drinks for guests. Lots of photo-ops with cosplayers representing different movies, including Star Wars (of course), Harry Potter, The Avengers, and Star Trek. The organizer rewarded each of us with 4 movie passes for appearing. Score!

Did this event support a charity?
No.

Event Length (Hours):
2.5 hours

Carolina Garrison Members in Attendance:
1. Bryan Roller (TK-14082) ANH Stunt Stormtrooper

Handlers:
1. None

Crossover Attendees from the Rebel Legion / R2 Builders Club / Mando Mercs:
1. Cory Wilson (Jedi)

Check out some of the event photos below: (please post pictures rather than picture links)

Date:
Aug 19, 2017

Location:
Hilton, Greenville, SC

Description of Event (Please share as much info as you can): 
This was the second year we have trooped this event. Austin Bell, the event coordinator of Southeast Game Exchange who invited us, generously provided us with a table for our displays. Steve Firestine set up our table and it looked great with all the props and toys everyone brought. The venue was expanded this year but was still packed all day. We tried mingling with the crowd in the main area, but it was hard to move through, so we mostly stayed around our table. Lots of pictures taken and lots of smiles from kids young and old. Glad to be joined today by our Rebel Legion friends. Truly, the more the merrier.

Did this event support a charity? If yes, which charity?:
No

Event Length (Hours):
6 hours

Carolina Garrison Members in Attendance: 
1. Bryan Roller (TK-14082) ANH Stunt TK
2. Mat Cohen (IG/TK-10835) Imperial Gunner/Shock Trooper
3. Kevin King (TB-9035) Scout Trooper
4. Steve Firestine (IC-90091) Imperial Bridge Crew

Handlers: 
1. Brendan Cohen (also Kylo Ren, Jawa)
2. Grayson DeWeil (also Vader)

Crossover Attendees from the Rebel Legion / R2 Builders Club / Mando Mercs:
1. Jessi Smith (Mara Jade)
2. Corey Smith (ROTJ Luke Skywalker)
3. Rebecca Berger (Padme Amidala)

Check out some of the event photos below:

Date:
June 10, 2017

Location:
GameStop
515 Bypass 72 NW, #B1
Greenwood, SC 29649

Description of Event (Please share as much info as you can): 
Members of the 501st and Rebel Legions deployed to GameStop in Greenwood, SC for their grand re-opening. The owner was very appreciative of our presence and provided us with a secure changing room and bottled water. I arrived first and was soon joined by Al, then Kevin. When we were all ready, we made our entrance through the back of the store. There were several families shopping with their children. This one kid was completely starstruck to see real live Star Wars characters coming toward him. We hung out in the store for a few minutes admiring their collection of Star Wars games and toys, before moving outside for photo ops. As usual, we took lots and lots of pictures and had interesting conversations with enthusiastic fans. In a first for me, one man wanted me to pose seated at the steering wheel of his pimped out custom truck. The struggle was real getting in and out, but anything for the fans, right? We not only attracted GameStop customers, but also patrons and staff from the neighboring businesses, and a few random passers-by. By chance, we encountered one of the organizers of Big Fandom Greenville, who express an interest in having us appear at their event in November. We finished the day with a scout and a stormtrooper arresting that scruffy looking nerd herder, Han Solo (I finally got to use my new binders). As we were leaving, the owner thanked us again and rewarded each of us with a collectible Star Wars themed Hot Wheels car. Of course, mine was a stormtrooper!

Did this event support a charity? 
No

Event Length (Hours):
2

Carolina Garrison Members in Attendance: 
1. Bryan Roller (TK-14082) ANH Stunt TK
2. Kevin King (TB-9035) Scout Trooper

Handlers: 
None

Crossover Attendees from the Rebel Legion / R2 Builders Club / Mando Mercs:
1. Al DeLachica - Han Solo (Rebel Legion)

Check out some of the event photos below:

Group photo...


You may be cool, but you'll never be stormtrooper sitting behind the wheel of a pimped out custom truck cool...


You're under arrest, Han Solo...


Buckets off...


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You guys killed it! Great job!

Nicely done, troops!

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I captured some stills from the Greenville Shriners Children’s Hospital slide show...

Epic troop! We'll done, everyone! I really like that we are able to coordinate with the Rebel Legion and Mandos. They work well with the Empire, which I guess is better than trading blaster fire with them... LOL! I hope we can all troop together in the future. I'll probably see most of you Saturday!

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Date:
April 29, 2017

Location:
Skate Away USA
123 Dixie Drive
Greenwood, SC

Description of Event (Please share as much info as you can): 
A friend asked us to appear at his grandson's 11th birthday party for a donation to Make-A-Wish. We arrived about a half hour early to change, only to find that the venue only had a small restroom for us. We elected to change in the parking lot... Oh well, it builds character! It was very warm and humid so I was sweating pretty good as we made our entry to the Imperial March. Phones were popping out everywhere to take pictures as we walked by. We made our way down to the party area and took many pictures with the guests and birthday boy. Fortunately, we found a spot to set up that had an AC vent blowing directly on us. The DJ was laying down some funky grooves, so we danced along with the kids (click on the link below).

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Sorry, Kevin and Skylar... Had to do it. We also had a group of about half a dozen fanboys (not with the party) follow us around the whole time. As I was walking out a young man in the lobby asked if he could hold my blaster. He asked what would happen if he pulled the trigger. I said, nothing, it's a prop. His friend rolled in the floor laughing. Oh well, I thought it was funny.

I know the Legion doesn't really do birthday parties, but my friend handed me a $100 bill afterward and said to donate it to Make-A-Wish. Good fun and a good cause. Good day to work for the Empire!



Did this event support a charity? If yes, which charity?:
Yes, Make-A-Wish.

Event Length (Hours):
2

Direct Funds Raised? (Money raised directly by the Carolina Garrison):
$100

Carolina Garrison Members in Attendance: 
1. Bryan Roller TK-14082 (ANH Stunt Stormtrooper)
2. Skylar Leakey TK-19997 (ANH Stunt Stormtrooper)
3. Kevin King TB-9035 (Biker Scout)
4. Alton Ouzts (Non-501st Vader)

Check out some of the event photos below:

Here's the birthday boy...



Getting ready in the parking lot...





Making an entrance...




During the party...







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Good job, guys!

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Unforgettable troop. Great turnout from the Legion, Rebs, and Mandos. Prayers for Lilly!

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