We have had floats in the Amherst County Christmas Parade for the last several years. In 2006 we won our first trophy and attempted to top it in 2007.
This is an article about our 2007 Float Entry.
USS Heimdal Brings “Guardian” to Life at Parade
By: Admiral Linda Smith, CO USS Heimdal
On December 1, 2007 the USS Heimdal in Madison Heights, VA entered a float in the Amherst, VA Christmas Parade. This was the 14th. year the chapter was represented in the annual parade with a float. This year’s float, however, was the product of a month & a half of intensive labor by Heimdal crewmembers building a replica of The Guardian of Forever from the original Trek series episode City on the Edge of Forever.
Not just a simple facsimile of the original Guardian, the Heimdal’s Guardian was a life-sized working model that spoke with the original Guardian’s voice, had smoke, blinking lights, & images projected on the portal. Those images included not only scenes from a Colonial Jamestown Christmas (the parade’s theme) but actual scenes from those encountered by the Enterprise crew in the City episode. The Heimdal’s Guardian stood well over 10 feet tall & one Heimdal member said, “The thing was big enough to drive a Honda through!”
The talented Heimdal crew built the arch out of plywood, chicken wire & papier mache. Smoke was supplied by a fog machine that released the fog through holes cut in PVC pipe that were attached inside & around the Guardian’s portal. Through the use of iPod technology & amplifiers, sound from the portal boomed through the night along the parade route & a digital projector hidden inside one of the planet’s ruined pillars provided the images on the portal.
The Heimdal won the first prize trophy in 2006 for Best Depiction of the Parade theme but, unfortunately, did not win the trophy this year. Crewmember Kelly Copes commented that ‘Our Guardian was just too cerebral for the judges.” Whether or not that was true, it was agreed by all members that the Heimdal’s Guardian was a float to be proud of for years to come. The teamwork involved in a project of such magnitude was incredible & seeing the original idea come to life was amazing.
The float presentation included a Starfleet Academy professor (Security Chief Carl Davis - the Heimdal’s Parade Guru!), who had brought Academy students to the Guardian of Forever in order to go back in time & see a Colonial Jamestown Christmas. Professor & students were dressed in Next Generation uniforms, as were Heimdal members who walked ahead of the float & carried the Starfleet banner.
As the Heimdal’s float moved down Main Street in Amherst, people from the crowd called out, “It’s the Star Trek people” & several shouted, “The Guardian” & “City on the Edge of Forever.” Chief Science Officer Willy Smith, wearing his Vulcan ears, drove the van that pulled the float. He said it was so cool hearing people call out, “Neat ears, man!”
A slide show featuring the Guardian’s construction from start to finish, plus it’s appearance in the actual parade was one of the highlights at the Heimdal’s Christmas Party on December 22nd. All crewmembers that participated in the parade & construction of the Guardian were recognized with Certificates of Appreciation from commanding officer Admiral Linda Smith.
Will the Heimdal do it again next year? Already there’s talk of building a working transporter!!!! Today the Guardian …. Tomorrow the stars!!!!
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PHOTOS:
1st. photo - (left to right) Communications Chief Glenda Blanks, CO Linda Smith, Science Botanist Bonnie Davis during construction of the Heimdal's Guardian
2nd. photo - Chief Science Officer Willy Smith "leaping" through the Guardian's portal
