rzill[TK] Posted April 7, 2023 Report Share Posted April 7, 2023 (edited) My first troop was technically not "official" since I did not post it for the rest of our garrison to be able to join (I began in the Great Lakes Garrison - Michigan, USA). It was a bell ringing event at a local Kroger for the Salvation Army on Christmas Eve, 2018. I'm including a photo of that, since it was my first time out in public in armor. I was on duty for 70 official troops in the Great Lakes Garrison, then I moved to Tennessee (USA), where I have logged 31 more official troops with the MidSouth Garrison. But, my real, first official troop was an event on January 19, 2019 in Grosse Point Park, MI. It was an annual winter event called Chilly Fest. Being not an atypical Michigan winter morning, there was about 10 inches of snow that I was in the middle of on my drive to the event. Being one of the only cars on the road - desperately wanting to finally don the armor at an official 501st event - I basically found a relatively not hazardous track in the snow and slush on I-696. I arrived safely, only to be the sole member of the 501st to attend. But, a member of the Mandos was there to assist me in my armor donning. It was a good time. After my photo at Kroger for the Sal bell ringing, the following is the only photo from my first official 501st event. The tiger is "Paws" - the official mascot of the Detroit Tigers. Troop Count: 1 official, 1 unofficial. Edited July 25, 2023 by rzill 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted April 7, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2023 Troop #2 - I found a PowerPoint presentation I started to create back when I was a teacher, and was on a roll making these presentations! This was my first troop with other 501st members (remember, my first one was official, but no other 501st were present).What a great time! And this little girl was a bit scared of my at first, but I just stood with my hand out and let her come to me. What a great moment.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted April 10, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2023 Troop #2 - I found a PowerPoint presentation I started to create back when I was a teacher, and was on a roll making these presentations! This was my first troop with other 501st members (remember, my first one was official, but no other 501st were present). What a great time! And this little girl was a bit scared of my at first, but I just stood with my hand out and let her come to me. What a great moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted April 10, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2023 Not much to troop #3, but it was was short and sweet with a free meal. I think the Scouts were more interested in getting their awards at the end of the dinner than with us. Can’t blame them for all the hard work they do, and Star Wars isn’t for everyone… but hey, nobody’s perfect. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted April 12, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2023 Troop #4, my first Con… although, it was a bit different than the traditional Cons I discovered. I dubbed it MarijuanaCon, after the state of Michigan passed the legal smoking of recreational pot, the odor in the parking lot and by the doors made me wish our buckets had filters. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted April 13, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2023 First hospital visit! Not a children’s hospital, nor a lot of patients to visit, but the staff sure had fun. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted April 16, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2023 What a fun Con this was! I met fellow Michigander, Lydia Graber, credited in ROTJ as Lydia Green, the dark haired Ewok who stormed the Scout Walker with Chewie in the Battle of Endor. Also met Roscoe Orman of Sesame Street, with whom I regret I did not get a photo. He told me he was their second choice after Billy Dee as Lando. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted April 21, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2023 Troops 7 and 8 were both shorter than the amount of time it took to don the armor! The adults seemed to enjoy them more than the kids, but hey …Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted April 22, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2023 Troop #9, very rewarding. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted April 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2023 Troop 10. Shaving head for charity. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted April 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2023 Troops 11 and 12 were pretty small, but they all count and all have meaning. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted April 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2023 My first two-a-day. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted April 28, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2023 This was the first Con they tried at this school. Bad timing, up against Star Wars Celebration not far, far away from us in the Detroit area (Celebration was in Chicago that year, during this Con’s weekend). Then Covid cancelled the next one. I’ve since moved out of state, so not sure how they’ve gotten along since. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted April 29, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2023 Rewarding event with some Rebel scum, my friend Scott. But, he does venture to the Dark Side as a Scout. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted May 6, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2023 My first May the Fourth! Although this was actually on the third, since it was a weekend long event and we were swamped with other events on the fourth. And because of the horrific evils of alcohol, it’s not allowed to be an “official” troop due to ridiculous rules… because in the films, we can see violence up to the level of an entire planet being blown away, but the Force forbid we see a Stormtrooper at a bar. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmrhodes13[Staff] Posted May 6, 2023 Report Share Posted May 6, 2023 Nice work trooper, don't forget to update the title of your first post with amount of troops Troop log title examples: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted May 6, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2023 1 hour ago, gmrhodes13 said: Nice work trooper, don't forget to update the title of your first post with amount of troops Troop log title examples: Good call, thank you 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted May 7, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2023 My first troop actually on May the Fourth. Detroit Tigers game and charity event at the zoo. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted May 9, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2023 Troops 19 and 20Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted May 13, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2023 Another unofficial troop, due to the evils of alcohol (oh, brother), but good fun at Star Wars trivia night. Some tough questions like how do you spell Kashyyyk?? Troop 21 at an end of the school year party. Needless to say, some of the kids needed a stern Stormtrooper to put them in their place. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted May 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2023 Troop for charity! First one with Ed, the Officer, who has since built a TK and ERG. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted May 17, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2023 A lot of minor league baseball teams in Michigan! Alas, I couldn’t make them all, but hit most of them. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted May 21, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2023 Troops 23 & 24. A lot of minor league baseball teams in Michigan. Alas, I couldn’t make them all, but hit most of them. The other is a fun outdoor theater setting to offset a bad movie. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted May 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2023 Fourth "unofficial" troop at my newphew's birthday -a surprise Stormtrooper showed up! Official troop #25 was the first official one in my hometown. Even though it's the "Detroit" Zoo, it's in Royal Oak, MI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzill[TK] Posted May 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2023 Fourth off-duty troop at my nephew’s birthday. Official Troop 25 was in my hometown. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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