Trooper Spotlight – Warren Markert (DZ-74075)
February 14th, 2016Name:
Warren Markert
Legion Number:
DZ 74075
Member Since:
July 2015
Primary Costume:
Garindan – Imperial Spy
Other Costumes:
ID – Imperial Security Bureau Officer
Legion/Garrison Offices Held:
N/A
Favorite Event:
EXPLORE @ NASA Goddard Space Center, 2015. I really got to explore the mysterious character of Garindan. Wandering around outside I got to sneak up on kids, scare adults, and really interact with the crowd “in character.” The silent rides up and down the building elevators with some of the guests were priceless. No one talked. They just stared at me. Then came the moment they were ready to get off and then I triggered my Garindan chatter sound byte and freaked them out when they realized that I could talk in character too.
Most Memorable Trooping Moment:
I am lucky and blessed to say that on my very first troop at the Aberdeen Ironbirds I was able to experience exactly what made this particular hobby worthwhile. First, my daughter, dressed in her Boushh outfit, practically stole the show. She took the job of entertaining the crowd and doing photo-ops so seriously that I realized that this was something she and I could bond as father and daughter over. The other thing I’ll never forget that day was we were approached by a young man with developmental disabilities and limited ability to communicate but the look in his eye and the expression on his face said it all. His face was one of sheer and utter amazement that we were there you could just fell the joy pouring off of him. There we were, characters from his favorite movies standing in front of him. I got such a huge hug from him it melted my heart and I knew EXACTLY why people do this.
First Contact with the 501st Legion:
Bowie Baysox Star Wars Night 2015. My daughter Delaney wanted to go out and see the Star Wars characters at the baseball game. When she found out that anyone could join the 501st and do those types of events, that was it. I began furiously sewing my first ISB uniform in order to get approved for the next baseball game at Aberdeen Ironbirds which ended up being my first troop.
Reason for Joining the 501st Legion:
My daughter Delaney. I showed her the Star Wars movies for the first time when she was 7. She became an instant fanatic. Later that year when I asked her what she wanted to be for Halloween she responded a princess. I figured she meant Elsa from Frozen but said clarified, “Princess Leia, and not the boring white dress. I want bounty hunter Leia.” It took me 4 months of blisters and burns from the hot glue gun and soldering iron but that is the origins of Delaney’s baby Boushh outfit. After the reactions to her costume that Halloween I got to thinking that I could do an awesome Star Wars costume for myself and relive my childhood with her (I was a jawa for Halloween in 1979). One of my friends suggested I check out the 501st, and the rest is history.
Favorite Star Wars________:
Favorite Star Wars movie is The Empire Strikes Back. The age of 7 seems to be the key age to get kids hooked on Star Wars and I was 7 when I saw ESB in the theater for the first time. I’d loved Star Wars since the age of five but ESB is really when the fanaticism kicked in. I think it was the AT-ATs.
Favorite Star Wars Character:
General Maximillian Veers. (hopefully my next build)
The only senior officer to have actually and effectively accomplished exactly what Vader wanted. Plus, again, AT-ATs.
Other Hobbies:
When there’s time… homebrewing beer and writing… otherwise my hobby-time is dictated by the whims of an 8-year-old girl and her hobbies (soccer, softball, girl scouts, Irish dancing, and, of course, trooping).
