International Star Wars Groups Provide Community Services

Have you gone to a show or an event and seen people dress up in their favorite Star Wars or Star Trek characters? The first thought that probably crossed your mind was "What a geek"!

Some of these "geeks" are actually doing a great service for your community and people should not be so judgmental of them because of their love for Star Wars or Star Trek. Hopefully after reading this you will open your eyes, so that next time you see these "geeks" you can go up to them and pat them on the backs and say "Thank you"!

I was a member of the Tallahassee, Florida, chapter of the International Star Trek Fan Club, Starfleet. The "ship" I was assigned to was the USS Khai Tam. We were a great group of people believing that we could live Gene Roddenberry's dream which was to live in a world where human beings have set aside their differences, eliminated disease and poverty, and have dedicated themselves to self-improvement rather than the accumulation of material wealth.

Our group did have fun getting together and we became great friends. We also volunteered and helped our community. Every month we cleaned two miles of the St. Marks Trail, removing trash and making it look better for the people who walk, ride or jog the trail to enjoy it's massive beauty. We also went to the children's ward of the hospital and visited them and brought them small presents. We raised money for charitable donations and I was even involved in putting together holiday baskets for the women in a shelter that found refuge from their battered relationships. We did much more for our community, but those were the highlights. These people did not see us as "geeks" but as people wanting to make the lives of others better whereas strengthening their belief in humanity.

My husband is currently involved in the Florida Garrison of the International Star Wars group, called Vader's Fist: 501st Legion. Thousands of people dress up as their favorite Star Wars character and go out in their community to help people. Sure they have fun, hanging out having their own little parties, but they also serve a greater good. My husband is a Desert Stormtrooper and he actually put together his armor in the desert while deployed in Kuwait. Everyone in this group has spent hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars on their outfit. I am also putting together an outfit of an AT-ST driver so that I can join in and help out my community.

We currently live in Jacksonville, Florida, where there are more than 50 members in the Florida Garrison in our area. Just in the past eight months, my husband has attended, they call "trooping", various events. He has been to free comic book day at one of our local comic book stores. There's nothing better than seeing a child's face light up and say "look, a Stormtrooper" and come running over to take a picture with them. They have also trooped "The Relay for Life" for the American Cancer Association. There were about six members of the 501st that walked the laps in memory of those that lost their lives to cancer. They have visited the children's ward of Wolfson's Hospital and saw kids who have been burned, abused or have cancer. Their faces light up when they see these characters and it brings them hope and gets their mind off their ailments.

Over 50 members of the 501st will attend the Jacksonville Symphony because they are honoring the music of John Williams. The creator of music of Star Wars, as well as other big movies and they will come out on the stage as the music plays. There will also be two special people there as well. Two children from the "Make a Wish Foundation" will be there because their wishes are to meet the 501st. They will get their wishes answered and everyone involved will be humbled and touched knowing they made these two children happy in their last days.

So next time you see a person dressed up in costume and instead of thinking "geek", perhaps think "humanitarian". If you have a special function that you'd like to have the Star Wars characters at, you can go to your local 501st chapter Web site and request an appearance. It's completely free. If you'd like more information about the 501st, you can go to their main website at www.501st.com and the local Florida chapter where my husband is a member is http://fl501st.com/squad7/