"Gee, It's not every day that you get to look out your window and see a huge helicopter landing in your back yard!"

That comment by two teen age boys seemed to reflect the feelings of the approximately 250-300 Gladstone residents who ringed the back lot of Fairview Christian Church on Monday, June 4, 2007. It was just a perfect evening with clear Sky's great temperature, and anticipation in the crowd.

The event was an open house hosted by Troop 155, The Fairview sponsored Boy Scout troop. A dirt track race car was open for inspection and was the hit of the event for a while letting any and all get into the driver seat. The Gladstone Public Service Fire Truck and Ambulance were open for inspection, and there were exhibits of fire starting, ropes bridges, solid fuel rocket launches, and wonderful cobbler samples made in a scout dutch oven, but the highlight for the neighborhood came at 7:00 PM when the thumping sound of an Army Chinook Helicopter came echoing through the area. The Chinook came directly across the church, made a big circle and settled down for a perfect landing on the back lawn of the church. After the huge blades of the copter stopped and the crew finalized the landing, the crowd rushed the helicopter for tours of the inside and discussions with the crew. After an hour, the crowds watched the take off procedures and the hit of the day lifted off circled for a final low level pass of the crowd and went in to beautiful Gladstone sunset for their return to their Olatha, Kansas home.

Troop 155 is a very active group of young men and leaders who would like to have YOU become a part of their organization. The troop meets Monday nights at 7:00 pm.