By Mike Greife,
August 28, 2017
WARRENSBURG, MO – The first official flyover by the U.S. Air Force’s B-2 Stealth
Bomber at the University of Central Missouri will be the highlight of UCM’s annual
Military Appreciation Day at the UCM Mules first home football game of the season
Thursday, Aug. 31.
The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command at nearby Whiteman Air Force Base will honor
military personnel and veterans with the flyover preceding the kickoff of the UCM
Mules-Pittsburg State Gorillas football game at 7 p.m. in Audrey J. Walton Stadium.
Military personnel and veterans and their dependents will receive free general admission
to the game with a military ID or UCM Command Pass. Brig. Gen. John J. Nichols, commander
of the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, will participate in the coin toss
to open the game, with welcoming remarks by UCM President Chuck Ambrose.
The B-2 flyover is a distinct honor for UCM, according to Jeff Huffman, director of
UCM’s Military and Veterans Success Center.
“The Air Force receives an amazing number of requests for B-2 flyovers each year,”
Huffman said. “The requests are prioritized according to pre-set protocols that consider
military necessity, visibility for recruiting and public relations, and events such
as professional and regional university athletic events.”
Huffman added that flyovers at regional university athletic events are rare, and UCM
is excited that this request has been honored.
“It will be an impressive event,” Huffman said. “They will fly over the Friendship
Tower and the stadium at an altitude lower than we are used to seeing when they are
flying overhead during the week.”
Prior to the game, military personnel, veterans and their dependents are invited to
enjoy a barbecue at the UCM Military Appreciation pregame tailgate at Selmo Park,
located just south of the stadium, from 4-6:30 p.m. Entertainment and activities will
be available for the entire family, including games and face painting.
Admission is free with a military ID. Reservations are appreciated, but not required,
and may be made online at ucmo.edu/tailgate. Parking will available just west of the
stadium on Washington Street, and tailgate guests may walk past the stadium and the
Friendship Tower to the Selmo Park location. In the event of inclement weather, the
event will be moved to the UCM Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
UCM also will celebrate the Mules home opener with the annual Get the Red Out street
fair from 4-6:30 p.m. The community event, planned in collaboration with the Greater
Warrensburg Area Chamber of Commerce, will take place on South Holden Street between
South and Clark streets. Get the Red Out will include inflatables and games for the
kids, hoop shooting with the Mules and Jennies basketball teams and more. More than
90 area businesses, non-profit organizations, UCM student organizations and others
will be present with information, goods and services to share.
