About
My name is Noel Green and I’ve been a member of the 501st Legion since May 8th, 2008.
I’ve loved Star Wars since I was a little kid, being 5 years old when the original movie came out. Stormtroopers were always one of the costumes I dreamed of having… and now, that I actually get to serve the Empire, still fills me with a great sense of pride.
Lots of people wonder why someone would do this… dress up in white plastic and go out in public. There’s no good way to explain it to people that don’t understand… but I’ve put together a list of 6 reasons why I love being a stormtrooper.
1) I love being a stormtrooper…
This may sound redundant, but it’s true. I love being a stormtrooper because I get to be a stormtrooper. I would be hard pressed to think of something from “pop-culture” that effected my childhood more than Star Wars. Ever since I first saw the movies I wanted to be part of them… and specifically I wanted to be part of the Empire… the “bad guys”… I wanted to be a stormtrooper. Getting to wear the armor is a childhood dream come true. Had you been able to show a young me a picture of myself from now in armor I doubt I would’ve been able to live through the next 28 years until I got to wear it.
2) I love helping people…
Costuming is one thing, and something I don’t have to have much of a reason to do, but getting to put on a costume for a cause (cause-tuming) is a completely different thing. It’s such a joy to be able to visit sick kids in the hospital, walk 5 miles in armor to help fight breast cancer, even stand around holding signs to help promote a blood or food drive. Being able to dedicate some of my time every few weeks to helping to better my community is an incredibly rewarding experience… and it’s something that makes me very proud to be a part of.
3) I get to play…
Certainly connected to #1 is getting to “play.” When I’m in armor I’m no longer “Noel Green” from Albuquerque, NM, but I’m “TK-8541,” faithful servant of the Empire. My heart, mind, and language are all “flipped” to defending the integrity of that Empire. I love talking to people who don’t understand that Leia Organa, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and the others are actually terrorists. I love telling people about what a great boss Darth Vader really is. Talking about the planets I’ve traveled to, the benefits (including great dental) the Empire affords. I love to play the part. It appeals to that “actor side” of me. I get to show a side of the Empire that many people never see / hear about… the GOOD side of it.
4) We are many…
While I love playing the part of an individual TK in the Empire, I also love simply being one of the many. There are literally over 4,000 members in the 501st and around 40 members in our region. But even if there’s only 3 of us at a troop there’s the collective “knowledge” that there are many, many, more of us “out there somewhere.” We are part of one Legion after all. And everyone who knows anything about Star Wars knows that stormtroopers are the infinite ammunition that the Empire uses to fight its battles. When I’m in armor I’m part of that collective. I become one of the million faceless mass of white armored soldiers that populate the Star Wars universe. While I love showing my “individuality” in conversations with other individuals, there is also something that is very satisfying about being void of any distinguishing characteristics.
5) Kids…
Kids are a major part of why I love being a stormtrooper. And by “kids” I don’t simply mean persons who do not yet have many years of life experience… I also mean anyone who has that wonder of childhood. And more often than not simply seeing us will bring that out in just about everyone we meet. The quality of our costumes and the standards we have to live up to be part of the 501st make our presence alone an amazing thing. The sense of… awe you’ll have the first time you see a group of stormtroopers in person is indescribable. It’s that look of “awe”… the gleam in the eye… that is the icing on the cake.
6) Brotherhood…
I love being part of the Legion because I’m part of a “brotherhood” of sorts. It’s like a world-wide fraternity that includes women as well. If I meet someone — online or in person — who’s a member of the 501st it’s like I’ve got an instant friendship… or at “least” an instant kinship. Just looking at the replies I’ve gotten to this note shows that this is the case. Brothers & sisters from all over the country, and all over the world… all who know exactly what it means to be a stormtrooper in the Galactic Empire!
You can listen to me reading this on the Nov 27th, 2008 501st Cast!