December 3, 2011
TB-8535 | Public Relations Officer

Members of the 501^st Legion – Dune Sea Garrison, Rebel Legion – Mos Eisley Base, Mandalorian Mercs, R2 Builders and other costuming participated in this year’s Annual Toy Anxiety Toy Drive and Sidewalk Sale. Attendees were encouraged to bring a unwrapped toy to donate for the groups to use on their visit to area hospitals. Those that attended had the opportunity to shop at one of our favorite toy stores have their photo taken with the costumed characters.

In response to the recent toy theft at St. Joseph’s Hospital, members of the Star Wars groups decided to donate their portion of the toy donations to the hospital.

Our sincere thanks to those that attended and the generosity, you all are greatly appreciated!

Members of the 501st Legion, Dune Sea Garrison; Rebel Legion, Mos Eisley Base; R2 Builders and Mandalorian Mercs participated in Star Wars Day with the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 25, 2011 in support of Stand Up 2 Cancer

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10 months of planning, 2 + months of building/repair and 5 days of hard work and fun!!!

That is what the members of the 501^st Legion, Dune Sea Garrison; Rebel Legion, Mos Eisley Base; Mandalorian Mercs Shonare Vhekedla Clan (AZ Clan), R2 Builders of Arizona and the AZ Chapter fof the Republic Service Organization experienced at the recent 2011 Phoenix Comicon (PCC) held over Memorial Day weekend in downtown Phoenix AZ.

Over 23,000 PCC attendees were amazed when they approached the Star Wars Neighborhood in the exhibitor hall of the Phoenix Convention Center. The first thing they saw was the 24’ square pavilion with different colored sails representing each group. These sails were 20’ high in the air which allowed their groups logos to be displayed prominently for everyone to see! Each attendee could walk through the pavilion to see the various prop displays from all of the groups. Then they would exit the pavilion to see the Droid Play area … where R2 and R5 were running around getting their photos when the kids that couldn’t wait to touch them. Once they passed the Droid Play area – they could have their picture taken at one of the three walls – Bespin walls with Han in Carbonite, Mandalorian bunker or the Death Star Walls.

Some interesting news articles highlighting PCC2011

http://www.angrykoalagear.com/2011/05/phoenix-comicon-star-wars-costume.html
http://www.ifpphx.org/video/phoenix-comicon-2011-star
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/oddity-was-a-commodity-at-phoenix-comicon
http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/events/articles/2011/05/23/20110523comicon-phoenix-convention-center.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q9ac73a_fc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHeiq2LYhJk&feature=related
http://www.flesheatingzipper.com/events/phxcc11
http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/comicon-wraps-up-successful-weekend-in-valley

February 26, 2011
Jen Palmer | TB-8535

Members of the 501^st/Dune Sea Garrison, Rebel Legion/Mos Eisely Base, Arizona R2 Builders Club, and Mandalorian Mercs/Shonare Vhekadla Clan invaded CrackerJax Family Fun & Sports Park to help out the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  This was a twofold event – one to thank the volunteers for their hard work and dedication to the foundation and two to give the children a fun day at the park. What could be better than to have their favorite Star Wars characters show up to make their day!  

Picture a little girl scared to get near R2D2 … a Biker Scout walks up and kneels down to say hello and chat with her a little bit. The little girl wants to get her picture with R2 but is afraid, but with a little coaxing the Scout is able to get the little girl near R2 for a picture. Her mother was ecstatic! The smile on that child’s face was priceless and is the reason why we do what we do.

Members were actually able to drive the go-karts – in fact a few of the kids even had their own Mando driver!

A great time was had by all attendees … thanks to everyone that came out!

February 13, 2011

By: Jen Palmer |TB-8535

For the second year the 501^st Legion-Dune Sea Garrison, Rebel Legion-Mos Eisley Base, R2 Builders and AZ Shonare Vhekadla Clan of the Mandalorian Mercs overran US Airways to promote the Clone Wars at the Phoenix Suns game.

Attendees were given the opportunity to have photos with of the 30 Star Wars characters that were stationed throughout the facility, participate in a costume contest to win prizes and try out the new LEGO® Star Wars™ III: The Clone Wars™ video game in the Gorilla’s Greenhouse.

Parents and children alike were thrilled to see a cast of characters like Darth Vader, C3PO, R2D2, Clone troopers, Storm troopers, Biker scouts, Jedi, Rebel pilots and Mandalorian Mercs.

Please visit http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/27512503 and http://www.nba.com/suns/photogallery/2011starwars_1.html for a few more pictures from the evening.

Many thanks to everyone that came out!