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Kiddieland
2007
Mission Report
Kiddieland – Saturday Oct 13th
Participants:
Tom Schaefer TK TD TR TI DZ IC 118 - C3PO /
Stormtrooper Event Coordinator
Austin Schaefer – Imperial Crew (padawan)
Jason Patterson TI SL 1719- Darth Vader / TIE Pilot
Alyssa Patterson – Tie Pilot (padawan)
Kevin Lehning TK-669. - Chewbacca
Amanda Lehning - Support
Aimee Jorgenson TB-0101 and kids – Support
Joe Flores TI 1296 – TIE Pilot -
Alex Flores – Imperial Crew
John E Fitzsimmons DZ TK 6442 – Tusken Raider / Stormtrooper
Terrell Reber TK1787- Stormtrooper
Gino Dipka - Costume Support
Jim DeJan TI ID IC–3853 Imperial Crew / TIE Pilot - tattooist
Emily DeJan - Costume Support / tattooist
Andy Marsh TI 2079- TIE Pilot
Kevin and Amanda arrived so early at Kiddieland, in Melrose Park, Illinois to
find that not only were they the first to arrive but also that the gates to
parking lot were still closed. Quickly contacting Tom on his cell that all was
well and that he was just a few blocks away. By the time he arrived the gates
opened and they were allowed to park.
Having organized the Kiddieland event twice before, Tom Schaefer was familiar
with the routine He, his son Austin, Kevin and Amanda entered the employee
entrance to the room where we would all be changing. Kevin and Tom then got
their Chewbacca and C3PO costumes prepared and laid out. Amanda sadly was not
feeling well and was a bit low key, but smiled and made the best of it. Tom then
went out to the parking lot to see if anyone else had arrived yet and to grab
some video of the Kiddieland scrolling marquee where the 501st legion and
Midwest Garrison were proudly announced.
Aimee with her daughters had arrived slightly before he made it to parking lot,
As did Jason Patterson and Alyssa, Jim and Emily DeJan and Joe Flores with his
daughter Alex and John Fitzsimmons. Andy Marsh arrived after followed by Terrell
Reber and his friend Gino Dipka from Michigan.
We all started suiting up. Sadly, Aimee realized after getting there that her
chest and back armor were not in her armor tub, and could not suit up. but being
the member she is, she stayed and helped not only Tom get bolted into the golden
iron maiden that is 3PO, but helped others as well. And Joe
forgot his flight suit and had to run home and get it.
Jim and Emily set up the table Kiddieland had
provided for us. The DeJans brought the 501st banner, as well as the big Midwest
Garrison logo sign, as well as PLENTY of temporary tattoos and supplies to apply
them for the kids. Jason also brought along a laptop to play our propaganda as
well as Maestro Williams’ orchestral scores to set the tone of the day as well
as the DVD of the Weird Al show done on September 25th with members of the
Midwest Garrison, and the Midwest Garrison DVD that Tom brought. Several boxes
of book marks provided by the Museum of Science and Industry to promote the Star
Wars “Where Science Meets Imagination” exhibit and were laid out for the public
to take.
While the DeJans were making many kids smile with the tattoos, allowing some
more adventurous younglings try on Jim’s TIE helmet and informing adults about
who we were and what we do, the rest of us suited up and started interacting
with guests of the park. Shaking hands, taking photos and wowing the crowds,
Kevin in his Chewbacca and Tom in his C3PO, Jason, Alyssa, Joe and Andy in TIE
gear, Alex, Austin, John in Tusken (which he later changed to Trooper after kids
seemed a bit too scarred of Tusken) Terrell in Trooper, Emily, Aimee and Amanda
as support and Gino all seemed to make the day of those attending park the first
3 hours.
Amanda wasn’t feeling well and Kevin’s feet were hurting and Tom was
understandably uncomfortable in the droid, So Aimee and Emily gathered everyone
together for a group shot before Kevin and Amanda headed home for the day. Tom
was paroled from C3PO and relaxed a bit before suiting into his Trooper armor.
YES, TK118 would actually suit up in TK armor for the first time in MANY, MANY
months. The owner of Kiddieland provided coupons for our food . A huge thank you
to Kiddieland for that, so we got to have free lunch and drinks. After eating.
Jason got into Sith mode and suited up as Vader. WOW, Did the kids LOVE that!
Vader was joined by 3 Stormtroopers and a TIE pilot as they walked around the
park, rode the train,(which by the way they not only had the normal Diesel one
running, but also the STEAM POWERED one. Yes, they have a steam powered train
that actually burns coal like the real ones! That was a must see, as they don’t
run that one very often.) and took the customary walk out to the main
intersection and slowed traffic by the amusement park.
As the sun stated to set and the crowds slowly started to die down, we all
suited down at about 6:30pm and headed down the street to Ruby Tuesdays to have
dinner. Sadly Aimee, Jim and Emily and Jason couldn’t join us. Midwest Garrison
CO Kathy van Beuningen, drove out from the city, after working all day, and
picked up Quincy from a school event just to have dinner with us. Tom was happy
Kathy came out, as is shows not only an interest in the Kiddieland event, but
support for it and for ALL those attending it, especially for our guest Terrell
Reber and his friend Gino Dipka who made time during his visit to Chicago from
Michigan to do this event, and Jim and Emily who drove over 2hrs each way to
make it.
After a lot of chatting, joke telling and having food, drinks and fun, it was
time to call it a night. We all shook hands, hugged and said good bye and headed
home. It was a great day and another very successful Kiddieland appearance. They
once again were VERY pleased with us and we hope to return again next season.
Since this is a two day Event, and Tom could not attend on Sunday due to work (
He had to kiss major Butt just to get the day off on Sat to attend) Jason is
taking the reigns as Coordinator for the Sunday portion of the event at Tom’s
request.
A HUGE, HUGE thank you to EVERYONE who came out! You ALL made it the fun and
memorable event is was.
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TK TD TR TI DZ IC 118
Translated by MarStoq
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