We asked you to contact us if you are an Ultimate Star Wars fan. We picked four of you who responded to write brief outlines of what Star Wars means to them. Here is our fourth fan post, from Mike Bryant of the Mount Joy area. The first was from Steve Rensi, the second from Kelly Donnelly, and the third from Peter Lee.

I have been a Star Wars fan from the beginning. I was 4 years old when the movie premiered in 1977. It has always fascinated me and struck a chord in my life.

The adventure and excitement combined with the unique characters, cool costumes, and futuristic weaponry. The story has all of the elements of the great myths, good vs. evil and the hope of redemption against seemingly impossible odds. All of this is set in a galaxy far, far away where the possibilities are endless.

The magic of Star Wars is that its pure entertainment that brings families together. It relates to all of us regardless of our age. Ship-to-ship space battles, swashbuckling lightsaber battles, blaster combat and the concept of artificial intelligence in the form of droids fully engage our imaginations in a way that had never been done before and continues to influence pop culture sagas to this day.

As a fan of the saga, I am one of many, but a few years ago I took the step to join a group of fans known as the 501st Legion that take their love of Star Wars and use it to create replica quality costumes from the movies and then use those costumes to do volunteer and charity work within our communities. I am currently the executive officer of the local chapter of the 501st Legion, Garrison Carida. In the five years since I became a member of Garrison Carida I have had the privilege to not only participate in exciting Star Wars promotional events like new product releases, and appearing on stage with Weird Al Yankovic, but also had the opportunity to meet several of the actors from the movies.

The main reason I joined the Legion, however, is all of the amazing charity work we do. From volunteering at a local library to visiting patients at various children's hospitals, there is no more rewarding experience than using my love of Star Wars to give back to my local community and to lift the spirits of those struggling through life's challenges.

The members of Garrison Carida use the magic and appeal of Star Wars to bring attention to various charity endeavors, such as the Children's Miracle Network, Make-a-Wish, Alex's Lemonade Stand, and Special Olympics. This is our opportunity as fans to feel like we are a part of the saga if even in a very small way. It is very rewarding to use this small part in the saga to make big differences in our world.