IL-Crystal Lake-Crystal Lake Gala Parade 7/01/07

[Whinter]

MISSION REPORT:

Glenn Chelius from the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake, IL (a non-profit organization) contacted the 501st back in late March to see if there would be any interest in participating in the annual Crystal Lake Gala Parade on July 1st with them. Each year the Raue Center builds a float with a different theme that they march down the local avenues with. This year’s choice was going to be a float to honor the 30th anniversary of Star Wars…Darth Vader’s TIE Advanced X1 Starfighter!

As the event grew near, the TIE was really starting to take shape. The word got out to the Northwest Herald, a local newspaper, and they came to do a story about the Raue Center’s parade entry. The article was then published 4 days before the parade…

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2007/0 ... 298723.txt

The weather was absolutely beautiful on the day of the parade... 78° with lots of sunshine. Jim & Emily DeJan arrived at the Raue Center for the Arts around 10:00 AM with their truck “Skull One”, pulling a trailer that several costumed members were going to ride on in the parade. By 11:00 the truck and trailer were fully decorated with handmade 4th of July holiday bunting that Phyllis (Schph Gochi) made, as well as flags, banners and fringe. By 11:15 all costumed participants were dressed and ready to jump aboard the trailer to be taken to the staging area a few blocks away, where we met up with Glenn and the Raue Center’s incredible TIE Advanced float.

I must say that everyone’s faces, including my own, completely lit up once we caught sight of the finished starship. I believe we all felt like kids again as we stood next to it, eyes wide and mouths hung open in amazement. They truly did an awesome job! And I think the Raue Center’s team was just as impressed with us in our costumes!

The parade stepped off at 1:00 and was approximately 1.5 miles long. The entire route was fully lined on both sides with adults and children of all ages. As we walked along the route with Star Wars music being pumped out of the sound system on Jim’s trailer, all we could hear from the crowd was cheering and the spectators calling out things like “There’s Darth Vader!” or “Oooh! Star Wars!” Then they would see the GIANT TIE FIGHTER being pulled by a black HUMMER. What a hit! Eyes widened, jaws dropped and people started getting to their feet as they watched the enormous Starfighter seem to “fly” past them. It was truly a sight to see, and quite a treat for us as well.

The Crystal Lake Gala Parade has a contest every year for the best parade entries. I am very pleased to say that the Raue Center for the Arts had the honor of accepting the parades highest award from the Parade Committee, the “Showstopper”. Along with the title, a cash award of $800.00 will go to the Raue Center as well. Great job! Glenn and his team of 5 others from the Raue Center put in approximately 400 hours to build the awesome 1,000 lb. TIE Fighter. What a team!

And speaking of teams, we had quite a fantastic team of our own! I would like to thank ALL of you for coming out and making this event such a huge success! I hope you all had as much fun as I did!

Participants:
Phyllis Schulte (TK/ID1951/Schph Gochi) – Rebel Fleet Trooper
Marlyn (Doc4converse) (RL) – Rebel Fleet Trooper
Darryl & R2-S5 – Imperial Crew & Wonder Droid
Deidra Culp (Princess Dee) (RL) – Episode III Padme
Aimee Jorgensen (TB0101) – Tusken Raider
Joseph Flores (TS/TI-1296) – TIE Fighter Pilot
Jim DeJan (TI 3853) – TIE Fighter Pilot
Emily DeJan (TI-1802) – Support
Greg Fischer (TI7748) – TIE Fighter Pilot
Ed Silva (TK4544) - Stormtrooper
Jason Patterson (SL/TI-1719) – Darth Vader
Gina Martino (ID6216 ) (RL) – Bespin Princess Leia
Kathy Van Bueningen (TK/ID9989) – Stormtrooper
Mark Berry (BH/TK4265) – Boba Fett
Kevin (CplBear) (RL/TJA) – Old Ben Kenobi
Cheryl Whitaker (TI-3127/Whinter Fenlynn) – TIE Fighter Pilot


Very Important Mini Participants:
Darcy Jorgensen – MWG Cheerleader
Gabby Jorgensen – Mini Princess Leia
Alex Flores – Mini X-Wing Pilot
Alyssa Patterson – Mini TIE Pilot


PHOTOS:
Cheryl’s Photos:
http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x273 ... ?start=all

Phyllis’s Photos:
http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa30 ... %207-1-07/

Jim’s Photos:
http://s54.photobucket.com/albums/g89/M ... ke%207107/

Jason’s Photo’s:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14601568@N00/689916920/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14601568@N00/689917400/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14601568@N00/689052409/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14601568@N00/689918614/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14601568@N00/689919294/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14601568@N00/689054437/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14601568@N00/689920096/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14601568@N00/689055209/