"At St. Patrick’s Day parade, tradition meets the galactic" by Jeremy C. Fox | Globe Correspondent, March 17, 2013
They are the Jedi knights, stormtroopers, maybe even a Wookiee or two, who belong to the Rebel Legion and the 501st Legion, “Star Wars” fans who travel to the parade from across New England and as far away as Maryland dressed as characters from the popular films, books, and video games.
In several previous appearances, they have become a much-anticipated draw of the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade rite, turning heads as they strut and duel through the streets wielding light sabers and blaster rifles.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the unofficial start of costuming season for the groups, with the Woburn Halloween Parade marking its end. Walking 4 miles in costume through South Boston can be challenging, but members said it is worth it for the enjoyment they give the crowd, especially the children.
“It’s something of a rite of passage,” said Phil Maiewski, 37, who lives in Brookline, N.H., and will wear a clone trooper costume. “It is the hardest troop of the year, but it’s also one of the most fun, because we get the most people to come out for it.”
These “Star Wars” fans grew up with the film series and other science fiction films and television shows. Maiewski said he saw the first film when it came out in 1977, though he was too young to remember it.
“ ‘Star Wars’ has always been there. It was my childhood,” he said. “I always wanted to be Luke Skywalker.”
Maiewski dressed as Skywalker on Halloween when he was 6 or 7, he said, but like most other members, he didn’t start making and wearing his own costumes until much later.
Many stumbled into the hobby by accident....
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Also see: Slow Saturday Special: St. Patrick's Day Breakfast
Bloomberg's Buckshot
I hate a parade.
