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Home > Archive > Aug 9, 2007

'Forces' to Reckon With
By Cami Cox
Staff Writer
The Force is strong with the Taylors, of Washington City. Members of the 501st Legion: Vader's Fist, a worldwide group of Star Wars enthusiasts whose motto is “Bad Guys Doing Good,” Roger and Laurissa Taylor and their kids, Bryce, Darryn and Cassidy, can be found at events around the country, dressed to the nines in their Star Wars gear.
But these Stormtroopers, Darth Vaders, Jawas and bounty hunters are more than mere Star Wars fans in costume – the Taylors and other members of the 501st group are bona fide charity workers on a mission to serve in their communities.
“It's one of the world's largest, truly nonprofit charity groups, because every single thing that they do comes out of their own pocket,” Roger Taylor said.
From visiting cancer patients and hospitalized children to participating in the annual MS Walk, Relay for Life and Coins for Kids – all in full Star Wars attire – the Taylors and other local 501st members are actively involved in improving the lives of others, participating in dozens of charitable events throughout the year. The Taylors and other 501st members pay all travel costs and expenses themselves when they attend events, but they say any inconveniences are well worth it.
“It's been very rewarding,” Laurissa Taylor said. “There's a lot of people in the world that just don't have as much as we have. It feels good to give back to the community, to help others feel good about themselves.”
The Taylors have been members of the 501st group for about a year. Though they are die-hard “Star Wars” fans, the family was drawn into the organization not because of the films the group pays homage to but because of the charitable work the 501st is involved in. And while the family has fun getting dressed up and attending events together, most valuable to Roger and Laurissa Taylor has been the effect serving others has had on their children.
“We're very fortunate that our health is good,” Roger Taylor said. “It shows our kids that there are people that aren't so fortunate and their whole life is stuck in a hospital,”
“I figured out that some people just can't go outside and some people are stuck in hospitals, so we're helping them out,” Darryn Taylor, 9, said. “It feels pretty good.”
In addition to doing good for others, the Taylors and other 501st members also get in on some of the real “Star Wars” action. Though the 501st Legion is not an official entity of “Star Wars” production company Lucasfilm, the group is invited to participate in many promotional events for that company. This year has been a busy one for the 501st, Roger Taylor said, because 2007 has been the 30th anniversary year of the theatrical release of “Star Wars.”
“We're not technically affiliated with George Lucas, but we help promote, and George Lucas lets us do this because, one, we look like we come right off the movie screen and, two, any money that we make goes straight to charity,” Roger Taylor said. “We kind of joke about it, because it's free publicity for him, but it's also cool that he recognizes us. They've actually recognized us enough that the 501st has their own Stormtrooper action figure now.”
The 501st Legion, so named because group founder Albin Johnson wanted something that sounded military-like, pertains specifically to characters from the Dark Side of the Star Wars world, like Darth Vader and his Imperial Stormtroopers. Another group to which the Taylors belong, called the Rebel Legion, deals with characters from the good side of the Force. Though Rebel Legion members are rebels with a cause, doing charity work like the 501st members do, that group is not yet as well organized as the 501st, Roger Taylor said. And while he does dress in Chewbacca gear at times and daughter Cassidy Taylor, 8, likes to assume the guise of Princess Leia, dressing like a bad guy has its advantages.
“Who wouldn't want to be the bad guys?” Roger Taylor said. “They always have the coolest stuff!”
The Taylors make their own costumes, which are detailed enough to rival the real thing. Roger Taylor's Chewbacca costume was created with almost $500 worth of hair extensions.
“You have to keep buying new hair,” he said, “because you get kids that will hug you with bubble gum or cotton candy. It just comes with the job.”
Not originally the Star Wars fan he is today, Roger Taylor became one with the Force because of wife Laurissa, with whom the family fanaticism began.
“She basically told me if I wanted to be happily married, I had to jump onto the bandwagon!” he said.
The first Star Wars costume belonging to the Taylors was a gift from Roger to Laurissa – a lifelike Stormtrooper costume it took him a year to create. Now, the family has a collection of Star Wars costumery, and the outfits get plenty of use as the Taylors travel to events both national and local, displaying their love for Star Wars and doing good for mankind at the same time.
The 501st is composed of people from all walks of life, Roger Taylor said, including Highway Patrol officers, construction workers, retired military members, graphic designers and even lawyers. The common threads among them are a love of Star Wars and the desire to make a difference in the world.
“That's a lot of dedication for a group that doesn't get paid,” Roger Taylor said. “This is all on the side. This is volunteer work.”

For more information about the 501st Legion or to request the Legion to appear at a charity event, visit www.501st.com.

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