Mundy's Featured Volunteers

Gary Burton has been a volunteer with the Mundy Volunteer Program through the Police Department, since 2004. He helps patrol the streets and assists the community under the direction of Officer Ron O’Neil. He and Ernie Eckerdt work together as a team, known as “Burt & Ernie.”

From 1966-1970 he served in the U.S. Air Force. Retired from General Motors in 1996. He is a member of the of the Nazarene, where he serves on the church board, facilitates an adult class, and operates the sound board, among other positions. He enjoys working outside, camping, reading, trap, skeet, and sporting clays. He is married to June Burton. They each have three children and together they have twenty grand children.

Gary received the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Mundy Township Police Department in 2005 and the Presidential Service Award in 2005 and 2006. Gary says, “Serving as a volunteer is a way to give back to the community. Through it I have made many friends. I believe in our community and want to help it continue to be a great place to live.”

Ernest “Ernie” Eckerdt was born in Flint Michigan, and attended Flint Technical High School. Ernie has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 53 years. Together they have two children.

Ernie served two years in the United States Army, of which, 16 months were in Germany on a specialized track machine. When Ernie came out of the service, he attained employment at Fisher Body in Grand Blanc, where he served an apprenticeship in the tool and dye area. He retired at the end of 37 years of service to GM.

Ernie states that he cannot work around the house, like he used to, and views volunteering with the Mundy Volunteer program as a way to get out of the house and views it as therapy. After taking the Citizens Police Academy course, he states, "I (got to) meet Gary Burton and enjoy working with him. I enjoy it very much." He has been part of the MVP program since 2004.