Our walk today was dedicated in honor of :
Walking in Honor of Navy Veteran Douglas Gordon Ott
Today, we had the honor of walking in memory of Navy Veteran Douglas Gordon Ott, age 56, of Shelbyville, Indiana, who passed away on July 24, 2026.
Douglas was born on April 29, 1970, in Kettering, Ohio, and passed away in Decatur County, Indiana. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy aboard the USS Tripoli as a Machinist’s Mate Third Class (MM3) from 1991 to 1995. During his military service, Doug served with honor during Operation Desert Storm.
Doug was a proud Navy Veteran whose love for his country and the values instilled in him through his military service remained with him throughout his life. He was a devoted husband and an amazing father to his twin boys, but he was also their best friend.
Outside of his service and family, Doug enjoyed fishing, photography, and attending rock concerts. He lived his life with the honor and pride instilled in him by the military, while carrying a true rock-and-roll spirit.
Doug leaves behind a loving family and many memories that will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. He will be laid to rest at the National Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.
Our Walk Today
We began our walk late this morning and spent the day honoring Doug, one step at a time. Along the way, we had the opportunity to meet and talk with several wonderful people who helped make the day even more meaningful.
Our first stop was the Veterans Memorial Park, where we took time to read the names of some of our Fallen Brothers and remember their sacrifice. We then continued south, crossing by West Avenue, where we made a stop at the Fire Department.
From there, we walked over to the high school to see the Navy jet. We then made our way back to West Avenue and stopped at Hardee’s to visit the remembrance table for my friend and fellow Veteran, Richard Dubious.
After resting for a few minutes, we continued west and eventually headed home. By the end of the day, we had walked 6 miles in honor of Navy Veteran Douglas Gordon Ott.
As I do on every walk, I carried a remembrance charm honoring one of the 22 a Day Fallen Heroes. Today, I carried the charm of Fallen Hero GM1 Matthew Austin with me. Although Matthew could not physically walk beside us, his memory was carried with us every step of the way. It is my way of making sure that these heroes continue to be remembered and honored, and that they are never forgotten.
I want to thank everyone who honked, waved, and saluted as we walked. Your support helped us honor this hero and showed that his service and sacrifice will not be forgotten. We received an amazing 354 honks today!
Today was an amazing day of remembering, honoring, and sharing the story of a proud Navy Veteran.
Navy Veteran Douglas Gordon Ott will not be forgotten.
And neither will Fallen Hero GM1 Matthew Austin, whose memory was with us throughout our walk.
Thank you for your service and sacrifice. May you both always be remembered. ⚓
Honor. Respect. Remember.
