KANSAS CITY, Mo. – U.S. Navy sailors from across the fleet are in the area this week for Kansas City Navy Week, volunteering in the community and discussing why the Navy matters to the Heart of America.
 |
Lt. Zachary Kelly works in the kitchen at Thelma's Kitchen as part of Kansas City Navy Week. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Madison Kwok) |
While many of the visiting sailors are from all over the country, this Navy Week will carry special meaning for those sailors from the area, including Lt. Zachary Kelly, whose parents, Tim and Kim Kelly, now live in Troy, Missouri. Kelly is currently assigned to USS John C. Stennis, one of the Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
“I am so excited to get to share some of the exciting stories from my Navy career with my family back in Kansas City,” said Kelly. “In the 10 years that I have been in the Navy, there haven’t been any opportunities to get back to Missouri, so once this opportunity arose, I knew I had to make it happen.”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Troy.
“My family moved around a lot and one of the important lessons I learned was that no matter where your family is spread out, we are always there for each other,” said Kelly.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Troy.
“My family moved around a lot and one of the important lessons I learned was that no matter where your family is spread out, we are always there for each other,” said Kelly.
Kelly graduated in 2010 from Oconomowoc High School in Wisconsin. Additionally, Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in life science communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2014.
Kelly joined the Navy 10 years ago.
“I joined the Navy in order to escape the rat race of a 9-to-5 desk job,” said Kelly. “My service has shown me the lasting impacts that my decision has made on people all over the world. It is amazing to be able to positively affect the world through the missions I have taken part in from anti-narcotic operations in South America, to anti-submarine warfare operations in the Pacific.”
Today, Kelly serves as a division officer for the air department aboard Stennis, which is going through a complex maintenance period.
“My job is a lot less high-speed than flying airplanes, but is equally rewarding,” said Kelly. “I have traded fast-paced missions for mentorship and one-on-one leadership of junior sailors.”
Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity. Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy’s flagship outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, providing the public a firsthand look at why the Navy matters to cities like Kansas City.
This is the fourth Navy Week to be hosted by Kansas City and the surrounding communities, with the last visit in 2021.
“Sailors are the reason America’s Navy is the most powerful in the world,” said Cmdr. Julie Holland, NAVCO’s director. “We are thrilled to bring your Navy Warfighters to Kansas City. At Navy Weeks, Americans will connect with sailors who have strong character, competence, and dedication to the mission, and who continue a nearly 250-year tradition of decisive power from the seabed to cyberspace.”
Throughout the week, sailors have been participating in various community events across the area, including ceremonial celebrations at Harry S. Truman Museum, WWI Museum, and Negro League Baseball Museum; volunteering with the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy, Habitat for Humanity Kansas City, Bishop Sullivan’s Center, Happy Bottoms, and Thelma’s Kitchen; and engaging with students across multiple high schools. Navy Band Great Lakes will be on hand all week providing free live music at venues across the area for residents’ enjoyment.
“This is the first opportunity I have had to bring my career to my family,” said Kelly. “It’s really exciting to get to go back home and do it in a work capacity and give back to my community.”
Kelly has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m most proud of completing flight school and earning my wings as a Naval Aviator,” said Kelly.
Kelly is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my mom, Kim, and dad, Tim, for always being there to provide support and give me the push I needed sometimes to buckle down and persevere,” added Kelly.
Kelly joined the Navy 10 years ago.
“I joined the Navy in order to escape the rat race of a 9-to-5 desk job,” said Kelly. “My service has shown me the lasting impacts that my decision has made on people all over the world. It is amazing to be able to positively affect the world through the missions I have taken part in from anti-narcotic operations in South America, to anti-submarine warfare operations in the Pacific.”
 |
Lt. Zachary Kelly (right) stands on the flight deck. (U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Recruit Alexander Morneau) |
Today, Kelly serves as a division officer for the air department aboard Stennis, which is going through a complex maintenance period.
“My job is a lot less high-speed than flying airplanes, but is equally rewarding,” said Kelly. “I have traded fast-paced missions for mentorship and one-on-one leadership of junior sailors.”
Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity. Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy’s flagship outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, providing the public a firsthand look at why the Navy matters to cities like Kansas City.
This is the fourth Navy Week to be hosted by Kansas City and the surrounding communities, with the last visit in 2021.
“Sailors are the reason America’s Navy is the most powerful in the world,” said Cmdr. Julie Holland, NAVCO’s director. “We are thrilled to bring your Navy Warfighters to Kansas City. At Navy Weeks, Americans will connect with sailors who have strong character, competence, and dedication to the mission, and who continue a nearly 250-year tradition of decisive power from the seabed to cyberspace.”
Throughout the week, sailors have been participating in various community events across the area, including ceremonial celebrations at Harry S. Truman Museum, WWI Museum, and Negro League Baseball Museum; volunteering with the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy, Habitat for Humanity Kansas City, Bishop Sullivan’s Center, Happy Bottoms, and Thelma’s Kitchen; and engaging with students across multiple high schools. Navy Band Great Lakes will be on hand all week providing free live music at venues across the area for residents’ enjoyment.
“This is the first opportunity I have had to bring my career to my family,” said Kelly. “It’s really exciting to get to go back home and do it in a work capacity and give back to my community.”
Kelly has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m most proud of completing flight school and earning my wings as a Naval Aviator,” said Kelly.
Kelly is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my mom, Kim, and dad, Tim, for always being there to provide support and give me the push I needed sometimes to buckle down and persevere,” added Kelly.