‘This was REAL, not cardboard cutouts,’ from Brian Johnson of Auburn

The Rose Parade was Awesome…We arrived at LAX and were greeted by a woman holding a sign that had a picture of a Stormtrooper Helmet on it and read “Marchers.” We were then taken to a bus full of other troopers from around the world. It was almost surreal when we arrived at the Universal Sheraton Hotel, 200 men and women from around the world, flown all expenses paid to Pasadena CA. All to march in the 2007 Rose Parade, because we like to dress up in white plastic as characters from a 30 year-old sci-fi movie and put smiles on childrens’ faces, Unreal huh! After checking into the hotel and getting our rooms we went to dinner in a large ball room. After dinner members from LucasFilm greeted us and gave us the itinerary for the week. After all the business side of things was done George Lucas himself came in and welcomed us. He made several jokes and expressed his thanks for all that the 501st does as a group. He also said that he couldn’t wait to see us on our dress rehearsal day.

The day of our dress rehearsal was awesome, it was so cool to see everyone dressed in their armor and stand in formation. It was just like in the original movies and you see the legions of troopers and officers at attention when Vader and/or the Emperor arrive on the Death Star… Only this was REAL, not cardboard cutouts… We all got to have our photos taken with George himself. We even got to shake his hand and thank him for his generosity and allowing us to march in the parade.
The march itself was quite hard, even the four days of army drill instruction didn’t prepare us for the length of the route. Stormtrooper boots are not made to march in… George was supposed to be at the head of the parade, but he refused as this would have made it impossible for him to see us march. So instead he waited in the grandstands and cheered us on as we marched past. He then joined the parade a few spaces behind us. It was very awesome to have George Lucas cheer us on.

Some may say we are nerds or geeks, etc. But when we put on that armor and see a child’s face light up its all worth it… I was born in 1977 so I never saw the movies until years later. I always dreamed of being a Stormtrooper, I thought they were so cool in that opening scene in Star Wars. Now 30 years later my own children watch it and they actually believe that I’m one of those Stormtroopers blasting onto Princess Leia’s blockade runner, or chasing down Han Solo and Luke Skywalker as they board and escape in the Millennium Falcon, or getting pummeled by Ewoks.

My Rose Parade Experience, from Alan Johnson of Norway
Going to the Rose Parade was an experience I won’t soon forget. Everything from the secrecy of preparing to make a “Marching Video” for Lucas Film Limited, then, receiving a phone call from Alexis Riding-Rice, asking me if I would like to march for George Lucas in the Rose Parade.
It was really a treat because I was selected from both videos I submitted for the Rose Parade. I was in our Garrison video containing more than 30 people. I was also in a video my brother Brian and I did because Brian couldn’t make the Garrison video shooting. So I received the first call from Alexis for the Garrison Video. Then I went through the email confirmation. Then I received 4 emails asking for me to confirm if I wanted to march. That confused me because I had already confirmed and received my confirmation from LFL. Then the day after the confirmation deadline Alexis called me again wanting to know if I would like to March. I told her about already confirming and receiving my confirmation; she looked on her list and noticed I was listed twice; one for each video submitted! She removed the second name and told me my packet was on the way. I was totally jazzed after that! Just knowing LFLs Steve Sansweet (Fan Relations) personally reviewed each video and actually chose me twice was a great feeling.

The day my packet came in I was amazed that there where 11 pages of “legalities” I had to read over, nine pages for LFL and two pages for the Rose Parade Association. Everything had to be signed properly, and I had to logon to a website for the travel agency to pick my roommates and there I requested to fly with my brother. All the communication leading up to actually flying to Pasadena was great fun. Our Garrison had a forum dedicated to the Rose Parade, the Legion had a dedicated Forum, and we where in constant communication with LFL.
The Day that we flew out to Pasadena was surreal. All expenses paid just for owning a suit of plastic. Well it is a lot more than that. It was for all the charitable things the Legion has done in the ten years it has existed. There is nothing like seeing the joy on some Child’s face, or Grandparent for that matter, when you put on that armor. Star Wars has touched all generations; it is something everyone can identify with or recognize. When our plane landed, Brian and I where treated royally! We were greeted immediately and we never even had to carry our own bags. Our greeter paid for a cart; put are bags on it, and even wanted to push it for us to the bus location. She talked to the shuttle bus drivers and made sure all of our luggage would fit and that we would be able to ride with out waiting for the next one. It was great!

The Shuttle Bus was full of passengers on their way to the Sheridan Universal! They were people of all different ethnicities and backgrounds, speaking separate languages gathered for one common goal. At the time that goal seemed to be to get a picture of the HOLLYWOOD SIGN! Everyone on the bus had cameras out and were congregating on the left side of the bus in anticipation of that sign! Imagine a bunch of school children on a field trip to Fenway Park for the first time. That was the excitement on this bus. When we pulled into the loop for the main entrance of the Sheridan all anyone could see where totes, luggage and 501st members, all sporting shirts and jackets advertising the legion. It was quite a sight. Check in took a very long time; I don’t believe the Hotel was quite prepared for us all. Brian and I quickly met up with our local Garrison members; there were ten of us total. After check in we went to the Liani Room where none other than LFL’s Mary Franklin (Fan Events) issued us our itineraries and even paid us! LFL issued all marchers a Meal stipend for the night we would not be eating at the Hotel with them. Amongst our other packets we also received a pin and our very own action figures made exclusively for Rose Parade marchers. Eventually Brian and I had our figures signed by all the attending LFL Staff.
Life at the Hotel was quite a trip we took over the lobby every night and either Mary F. was sword fighting the other troopers or R2D2 was roaming about performing for the other Hotel occupants. Of course we as a whole (all 200 marchers) would take a break and watch ourselves on the local news at night. It seemed like we were on camera the whole time we were there. Between LFL documentary staff and Prometheus Studios camera operators we couldn’t hold a conversation with out someone coming and asking us to repeat our whole discussion back to them on film! It was very difficult to have a bright light in my face and try to repeat a candid conversation with out looking at the camera (and make it seem natural). The LFL staff was very professional and extremely nice. The Hotel staff took good care of us. At meal time if you took a drink from your glass and set it down, almost before your hand was off of the glass someone was filling it to the brim again! The food was excellent, dining hall fabulous! There were huge beautiful chandeliers. Every meal was with accompanied by the great Tiger Marching Band members and the LFL staff would give us the day’s summary after each meal. George Lucas himself joined us the first night telling jokes , encouraging, and thanking us for being part of his kick off for the 30th anniversary for Star Wars. A truly wonderful, experience.

Marching Practices where full of mystery and secrecy, always being told not to divulge our destination to anyone. It was fun, hard work, but very enjoyable. We did everything under the guidance of army drill instructors from various countries. My squad’s instructor was from the UK. I was part of the first group of marchers; we were all clean white Stormtroopers. The first day and the last day of practice showed striking improvement in our ability to hold straight lines and perform wheel turns. It was a great accomplishment to suit up in our armor and March the field for Mr. Lucas. He had a grin from ear to ear as we marched and turned passed him. It must have been quite a sight for Him. He even endured taking pictures with the Band and the 200 Legion members as a whole, with the Sun shining directly in His eyes. He was great; he shook our hands and personally thanked us for being apart of His celebration.

The actual march was a daunting task that even 4 days of military drill couldn’t prepare one for. It was very cold at 4 am January 1st in Southern California. We knew right from the beginning that the day would be a long hard haul; being told that we would not have bathroom breaks after we arrived on the Parade route. We were told it would be hot later that day but that we should only drink minimal amounts of water. All the port-a-potties along the route were removed due to the threat of them being used as a place to store a bomb (post 9-11 scares still). Some Marchers even wore adult diapers in preparation for the march. I just stuck it out till the end! When in formation it almost brought tears to my eyes as the different marching bands played the stars and stripes and the air force signaled the start of the Parade with a flyover from a stealth fighter and an F22 Raptor. I am glad the press was located at the first turn along with George Lucas cheering us on. We were still all fresh and in step! An impressive sight! However, from my perspective, all I could see was the head and shoulders of the trooper in front of me and the guy to the right of me as I attempted to keep my lines and step. The actual parade to me was the most disappointing part of the whole trip really. It was the culmination of the whole trip but the most unsatisfying as well. As a marcher my focus was performing well, in that I was not able to “take it all in”. My Parade Day experience was just watching the guy ahead of me and keeping my line straight. As I look back, I wish I was able to look at the Millions in the crowd and watch them cheer and really take “it” the moment in. Instead, after a very difficult march I was tired, exhausted really, I went back to a Hotel with my fellow 501st to watch ourselves on TV be ridiculed by the local announcer Bob Eubanks. Mr. Eubanks gave an apology, and all is well now, but at the time it was a real low for us all. However, George Lucas and Steve Sansweet gave us a very warm thank you the night of the Parade.
It was a great honor to be chosen by LFL and be a part of this legacy that George Lucas created and continues to achieve. The friendships I made while in Pasadena and the experience of it all will not be forgotten. Star Wars, for me, is a fun way to spend time with my family and to help put a smile on those around me who might not have something to smile about. It is an indescribable thing to look on a child and see the joy and wonder in their eyes when they see me as a Stormtrooper.