The 501st Legion is an international organization dedicated to constructing and wearing accurate costume replicas of the villains in the Star Wars Universe.
“Vader’s Fist,” as commonly called, now has over 6,500 active members with nearly 11,000 approved costumes. What started as a humble Geocities website in 1997 quickly grew into a worldwide movement that spread to over 50 countries.
The Legion’s mission is “to promote interest in Star Wars, to facilitate the use of costumes, and to contribute to their local communities through charity, fundraising, and volunteerism.” The Legion’s charity tracking website reported that in 2012 member volunteers helped raise over $14 million with approximately 4,747,325 person-hours. This is the story of Garrison Excelsior and the local chapter of men and women who serve the Upstate NY region.
