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May 10, 2008
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 Of all of the celebrities I've met, there is one who stands out because of his personal and approachable nature, his natural charm and humility in the face of star-struck, adoring fans. That man is Jeremy Bulloch.
Few actors have done so much with so little and meant so much to so many. Jeremy Bulloch's portrayal of Boba Fett has spawned it's own fictional history and culture known by many as Mandalorian, the fundamental principles of which are that what's in a person's heart is more important than what's in their blood, and that what a person has done is not nearly as significant as what they choose to do now. How ironically appropriate then that Jeremy Bulloch, father of Mando, is the living embodiment of these traits. He reaches out to his fans as a friend, and though he is aware of how much he is revered for his past performances as Boba Fett, he seems more interested in the connections he makes now with those to whom he means so much.
 As a devoted fan myself, I have developed these insights over the years watching Mr. Bulloch's career, and more recently when the Central Garrison, to which I belong, took him out to dinner and inducted him as an Honorary Member of the Central Garrison.
The evening began as a few of us (TB-750, Persephone and myself) showed up to make sure everything was ready. Quickly, our ranks began to fill out the banquet room at Ed Canigalia's Venice Inn. It wasn't long before we heard a strong English voice boom from behind us, "Welcome friends, welcome to my place... well at least it's my place tonight." We turned to see Jeremy, arms wide, palms up-turned,
and a glowing smile on his face. Our Membership Officer (and occasional SWAC-er) TK-1375 (Dashrender) quickly offered to get Jeremy a drink. Graciously, he ordered a Samuel Adams and began to go around the room to greet our members who were still standing around chatting and mingling. After about half an hour of conversation and drinks, we finally decided that it was time to take our seats and begin the dinner.
 As seats quickly filled I realized, much to my delight, that the only open seat near me was right next to Mr. Bulloch. As we sat down, he said he liked the tattoo on my neck and said he had a relative with a very similar design on his arm. Then the waiter came around to take our orders. I ordered the New York Strip, medium rare with a coffee. Jeremy ordered the same, but with another Sam Adams. Over the flavor of the magnificently prepared steak, we talked about politics and our mutual experiences at Celebration IV. Through the course of the meal, he told us about how the Troopers of The Dented Helmet had made him his own, extremely accurate, Boba Fett costume, and that he was planning to wear it for an upcoming charity event in Europe with the UK Garrison of the 501st, in addition to some future charity events.
Dinner wound down, plates were cleared, and one of our Garrison's own Boba Fetts, Mason H. (BH-9545) was given the honor of presenting the Honorary Membership Plaque to our revered guest. Most of us expected Mason to stammer and drool (and possibly pass out), but he managed to pull off a presentation that made us all very proud as he read the inscription on the plaque. He told Mr. Bulloch just how much
he meant to us and how we have admired all he has done to support the Star Wars universe. At the bottom of the plaque, "Truth, Honor, Vision", a Mandalorian phrase used to commence a bond or contract, is engraved in Aurebesh. Somehow, that seemed fitting of the man, the myth, and the legend of Jeremy "Boba Fett" Bulloch.
 The following day, my fellow members of the Central Garrison and I got the honor of armoring-up and trooping at Jeremy's side for Free Comic Book Day at Krypton Comics in Omaha, Nebraska. He certainly put in a full day signing autographs, shaking hands and telling stories from 10am to 6pm. All day long, the line of people wound through the store and down the block. It was insane. When it was all over, Jeremy thanked us for trooping at his side and took some more pictures with us in our armor. After he left, we all gathered for a bite to eat and finished up the evening with a late showing of Iron Man at the local theater. It was the perfect cherry on top of an unbelievable weekend.
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