Arizona store gives ‘Star Wars’ record back to Mark Hamill

Mark Hamill arrives at the world premiere of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” in Los Angeles. Image: AP/Invision/Jordan Strauss

The Force was strong enough at an Arizona store to reunite Luke Skywalker with his long-lost vinyl record.

Actor Mark Hamill is praising workers at Bookmans Entertainment Exchange in Flagstaff for returning the “Star Wars: A New Hope” soundtrack that had been a gift from film composer John Williams.

Hamill said in a tweet Saturday that it felt “totally unexpected & positively surreal” to get back the record he had not seen since the early 1990s. He commended the store about 145 miles (233 kilometers) north of Phoenix for being honest and not selling it.

“I happily offered to sign any (‘Star Wars’) items they sent me,” the actor wrote.

Williams had written on the vinyl’s sleeve: “Dear Mark Hamill, May the force always be with us.”

The record was one of numerous “Star Wars” items brought in by a woman after her father’s death in 2018, the Arizona Daily Sun reported. Employees at the Arizona-based chain that sells used books, movies and CDs tried to verify the signature.

Micheil Salmons, the store’s general manager, said they eventually tried reaching out to Hamill via social media. The actor confirmed it was genuine, and the vinyl was sent back to him.

Salmons said Hamill signed a DVD of “Star Wars: A New Hope” and two medals that are replicas of those given to his character and Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford, in the film. CL/NVG

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