DATE: Saturday, March 9, 2013
PLACE: Northbrook – Chicago – Northbrook, IL
Tour of Duty – (4 x 2 hours)
Adriane Bean (4541) – Stormtrooper
Roland Batrouni (4186) – Stormtrooper
Tyler Meier (50488) – Tusken Raider
Cheryl Whitaker (3127) - Scout
This was a new kind of birthday party for the Midwest Garrison. For the first time ever, we attended a 10 year-old boy’s birthday party on the train! That’s right…a Chicago-bound Metra train.
We boarded the train, along with the birthday boy’s father (Bruce), at the Metra Train Station in Northbrook, IL. The conductor directed us to our own personal train car for the event, where we could stay out of site from the other birthday party attendees, which were going to board the train at the next stop.
As the other attendees boarded, we stayed hidden and the kids started the party with pizza. Once finished, it was time for us to make our entrance. Bruce queued up the Imperial March and we made our way to the other side of the train car to meet the kids. They were so excited. Most of them were up on the upper level of the car, so they we all able to get a good view of us as we made our way down the narrow isle, single file. Unfortunately our armor made it pretty much impossible to access the upper level, but our Tusken (Tyler) was able to have fun with the kids upstairs.
Once we arrived at Union Station in Chicago, we had to change trains to make our return trip. It was only about a 10 foot jaunt between trains, but we ended up being absolutely mobbed by the other commuters getting on and off the trains. After all of our party-goers got on the return train, we took a few photos with some of the other commuters, boarded the train and closed the doors. But that didn’t stop the commuters passing by. They kept taking photos while we stood at the doors, peering out the windows and waving at them.
Before the train left Union Station, we were also able to get some group shots taken with all the kids, as well as shots taken with each child. It was a lot easier, and safer, to get good clear pictures when the train was sitting still. We handed out our trading cards, talked with the kids some more, and then went back to our side of the train car to relax while they were eating the birthday cake. Before the kids started trickling into our side of the car, the train conductor came in again and started chatting with us about the group and our costumes; even going as far as trying on a few of the helmets. We’ll probably be hearing from him again soon.
As the train approached the kids’ stop, we said our good-byes and thanked our hosts. But before they left, they gave us the left-over pizza to snack on when we got back to our cars. But things didn’t stop there. When we got back to our stop, we took a few more photos with the conductor, then got off the train and took even more photos with a few of the commuters after the train left. It was definitely a different and fun event.
Thank you so much to my fellow troopers that joined me for this one. It certainly wouldn’t have been such a success with you!
There will be a donation made to the “Save the Children” Foundation. I am just waiting for the total from our host, as well as even more great photos. In the meantime, here are some from my camera:
http://s1099.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... 3940552562
