Very soon the Air Force will award a contract for replacing the aging KC-135 aerial refueling tanker fleet. There are two companies vying for the contract: the American Boeing Company and the European Airbus, an EADS Company.

To us, in this part of the country, it may seem the clear choice to “Buy American,” but a few other states have been promised jobs from the foreign manufacturer and are stirring debate over this purchase.

I encourage Oklahoma’s federal delegation to support American and Oklahoman jobs and business by supporting the award of that contract to Boeing for their KC-767 tanker.

Our responsibility is to support companies we represent and help them grow their business. I write in support of Boeing’s over 200 vendors and suppliers in Oklahoma and the nearly 1000 employees that Boeing supports – which include vendors and employees in Mayes and Rogers Counties.

I believe Boeing offers a better product than the foreign built product. Boeing has a long and positive history of building quality aircraft for this country. Boeing has produced tankers, along with the whole range of aircraft for nearly three-quarters of a century.

As an advocate for Oklahoma jobs and businesses I encourage the US Air Force to award the tanker fleet contract in its entirety to Boeing.

State Representative

Ben Sherrer, District 8

Don’t forget

the past

Editor,

“Everything is up to date in Claremore” as illustrated in the Progress, Jan. 27. Sounds great!

But, do we just want new and forget the history that made Claremore known to the world? The Belvidere Mansion, the Will Rogers Hotel, the Ed Galloway Totem Pole Park and the Lynn Riggs Museum are historic sites special to Claremore and Rogers County citizens. (The Will Rogers Museum and the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum are included in this collection; however, they have limited funding from the State of Oklahoma plus donations). Visitors from all over the world come here to visit with a thirst for the history behind these unique tourist sites.