Doug Eckerty

A Salute to Veterans

By: Doug Eckerty

Over the summer, I was fortunate enough to fulfill a lifelong dream of actually flying in a World War II bomber, the B-17 Flying Fortress. The B-17 was in Muncie, Indiana at Johnson Field for three days, offering tours of the aircraft as well as flights. The experience was outstanding and left me with a profound sense of reverence and awe for those brave and selfless men who flew in these aircraft.

I have always had an interest in those who served in the military during World War II; most likely because my dad and his two brothers served in the military during that period, as well as all six of my mother’s brothers. My dad was a sonar operator on a mine sweeper in the Atlantic; his brother Pete was in the infantry in Italy and the last brother, Reece, was a logistical officer. Two of my mom’s brothers served in General Patton’s tank corps and were part of the final invasion of Germany. I can remember from my childhood my dad and my uncles telling stories about the war, and I can equally remember them telling about friends and family who did not return home, having laid the ultimate sacrifice on the altar of freedom.

When I told my dad that I was going to take a flight on the B-17 he welled up with tears and told me that if it had not been for the men who flew in those bombers it was doubtful that we would have won the war. He said the attrition rate of both men and aircraft was enormous. He also told me that his cousin, a tail gunner, had been killed in a bombing run over Germany and that my mom had a cousin who was a B-17 co-pilot whose plane was shot down over Germany and he perished.

The day of my flight brought me the opportunity to talk at some length with one of the flight crew, Dave, about the history of the B-17 itself and the men who flew in them. He told me that 12,000 B-17’s had been built and flew during the war. Of the 12,000 built, 6,000 were shot down and 25,000 airmen had lost their lives. My dad was right about the attrition rate, 25,000 is roughly the entire population of New Castle, Indiana, our neighboring community just a few miles to our south.

As we crawled up into the B-17 for our flight I was overcome with a sense of pride and gratitude for those brave airmen who put everything on the line to liberate a world at war and preserve freedom. For those of you out there who flew in these extraordinary aircraft and survived, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And for those of you who were the family and friends of the more of the 25,000 who lost their lives I can only tell you that I will always remember and honor their sacrifice and yours. Indeed, you are all part of the greatest generation to have ever lived. Thank you all.

Eckerty Wins

Doug Eckerty defeated Sue Errington to win the Senate Seat for District #26. Eckerty won with 52% of the votes.

Thank you for your support of Doug Eckerty.

The Star Press Endorses Eckerty

Doug Eckerty receives the endorsement from the Delaware County newspaper, The Star Press. Please read the article below, “OUR VIEW: Eckerty shows vision” by the Editorial Department of The Star Press.

Candidates in the State Senate District 26 race are nearly a textbook contrast between Democratic and Republican values and ideals — between government activism (Democrat Sue Errington) and limited government (Republican Doug Eckerty).

Errington, retired public policy director of Planned Parenthood, is seeking a second term in the Senate. She has served her district well, although her effectiveness has been blunted because she’s serving in the minority party. Republicans control the senate 33 to 17, one seat short of a quorum.

To her credit, Errington has often been the voice of reason when partisanship rancor has tried to prevail over what’s best for the people. For example, it was Errington who got the Muncie City Council to reconsider a vote this year to issue bonds to repair Tuhey Pool.

But the issues that face East Central Indiana call for a stronger voice, a candidate with a plan and the guts to back it up, whether in the majority or the minority.

The Star Press Editorial Board believes that candidate is Doug Eckerty, whose clear-cut vision and ability to outline a blueprint for a better Muncie and Delaware County, stand out.

With experience as an insurance agent and in real estate property management, Eckerty has knowledge about the economy and business climate that should serve his district well.

Eckerty is calling for an overhaul of how we view ourselves as a community. He explains that Muncie and Delaware County work like other communities, fighting for a finite number of companies and their jobs, the same ones other communities seek as well.

He proposes drawing on the expertise of Ball State University and Ivy Tech to transform our schools into leaders of public education. He wants world-class schools that will change our image, and then, he says, businesses will follow. He sees a day when businesses will want to come here rather than having to be recruited to move here.

Eckerty admits this won’t be easy, and it will take a buy-in from everyone in the community — every single person. Progress will be gradual and the it will take years. Eckerty thinks it’s realistic, and so do we.

Errington wants legislation to help small businesses gain access to capital and entrepreneurship. She envisions a small-business concierge to help businesses find and use resources to help them grow. Her plan has merits, but there are existing programs out there that are supposed to be doing this already.

Eckerty seems more in tune with the needs of the district, and he has a vision that goes beyond government solving every problem. If elected, Eckerty would serve in the majority party in the senate, and that should help bring benefits and clout to his district.

We do, however, have strong advice for Eckerty should he win the seat. He must be willing to work with Democrats for the mutual good of the state.

The Star Press would be remiss if we did not mention our disappointment with some of Eckerty’s campaign advertisements. We hope these are the mistakes of a new politician facing a tough challenge from an incumbent and not the way he intends to do the people’s business.

Delaware County is tired of politics, particularly the bipartisan fighting and finger-pointing. Eckerty needs to set an example. We would encourage Eckerty to turn down the negative rhetoric and stick to issues that are germane to serving as a state senator.

Eckerty and his visions for our future deserve a chance to succeed or fail. The current thinking and approach to solving problems have not gone far enough to move the district toward a better and prosperous future. Eckerty is the right person to jump start the process and he should be elected to the state Senate.

To read this article from The Star Press, please click the link below.

http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20101027/OPINION01/10270347/OUR-VIEW-Doug-Eckerty-shows-vision