Around each Veterans Day, the skies over Black & Veatch’s global headquarters and Overland Park, Kansas, thunder with the thumping sound of Army helicopters closing in like something out of “Apocalypse Now.” Rotor wash sweeps across the company’s campus as the choppers hover and gently nestle down — undeniable stars in the tribute to the Armed Forces, with armored military vehicles playing a supporting role.
It's always awe-inspiring — and a bit nerve-wracking — for James Elliott, a 10-year Air Force veteran who, with a small ensemble of Black & Veatch colleagues, spends months painstakingly hashing out the logistics that make the Kansas City region’s largest Veterans Day celebration come alive.
While reflecting gratitude for the Armed Forces by Black & Veatch — the 110-year-old company that has collaborated with the Department of Defense and military agencies across 100 countries — and the city of Overland Park, the observance serves other missions. Proudly public, it’s a community opportunity for reverence and to take in military machines from taxpayers’ virtual Kansas backyards. On the recruitment front, tomorrow’s patriots in uniform can see, hear and feel instruments of freedom, right down to the wind from the helicopters.
“For so many reasons, we hold these events dear,” Black & Veatch Chairman and CEO Mario Azar said, marking the 18th year in a row the company has sponsored the celebration. “We owe veterans our deepest gratitude for their enduring courage and sacrifice to protect our freedoms, and for their continued efforts to make the world a better place.”
The work to make these events a reality — including this year on Nov. 6, when more helicopters are expected at Black & Veatch — all hinges on clearing federal and state hoops to secure the showpieces that make everything pop. Past highlights have included Chinook, Black Hawk and Apache helicopters, tactical military vehicles, local first responders and historical military vehicles by members of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association.
Uncle Sam and the value of relationships
Unsurprising, booking U.S. military air assets begins with outreach to Uncle Sam and a written request to the Pentagon. The Federal Aviation Administration decides the feasibility of helicopters landing anywhere other than an airport, in this case in suburbia. The FAA’s signoff pushes things back to the Pentagon to decide if the event is “eligible.” If so, collaboration can begin between the event organizer and military interests with the desired assets.
Black Hawk helicopters are compliments of the Kansas National Guard in Topeka, about 60 miles from the Fort Riley home of the Apache choppers. Chinook helicopters — large, twin-rotor beasts that transport troops, equipment and supplies — have flown in from Gardner, Kansas, about a half hour drive from Black & Veatch.
‘Visceral and unforgettable’
As each of the events unfolds, Elliott chuckles at the conspiracy theories that have stirred up on social media over why Army helicopters suddenly were swooping into Overland Park in formation. Or when an Abrams tank, under police escort, rumbled its way down a Kansas City freeway and Overland Park streets to another such salute.
“I can count on probably one hand the times I've been up close to an actual fighting tank. That was cool,” said Elliott, who’s helped spearhead the event’s planning since 2007 — first on the former Sprint campus and, for the past several years, at nearby Black & Veatch. He cast the rotor wash from Apaches and Black Hawks as “visceral and unforgettable” to would-be recruits.
Safety is paramount, most notably in ensuring that those gathered and tents are properly distanced from working helicopters: Only after the choppers land and their blades stop spinning can Elliott exhale — his “collapsible moment” when he knows logistics worked, the crowd is safe and the event is on.
“There aren’t a lot of companies that would do this. They’d cite too many reasons why this won’t work,” he said. “This really highlights our employees’ capabilities to go above and beyond their day-to-day operations and put something special like this together.”
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About the event
This year’s public Veterans Day celebration will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Black & Veatch world headquarters at 11401 Lamar Ave. in Overland Park. Click here for more details.
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