Sorry to annoy you

Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were.

A lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back.
Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall. When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must have stung quite a bit.

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The complaint:

'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Sunday, at precisely 9:11 a.m., a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special? Any response would be appreciated.


The response:

Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' (Letters, Thursday): On June 15, 2008 at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four-ship flyby of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.

At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend. Based on the letter writer's recount of the flyby, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured.

A four-ship flyby is a display of respect the Air Force pays to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.

The letter writer asks, 'Whom do we thank for the morning air show?' The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr.
USAF

Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you.....Jesus Christ
and the American Soldier.   One died for your soul, the other for your
freedom.

Andy,

That was some great reading! Two colleagues of mine came to read it also... Same feelings here as the last two sentences you wrote in your post... But it goes beyond the American Soldier... We offer to die defending our and our allies' democratic freedoms as well.

Thanks to you an your fellow soldiers Kristof.
And because of that position and offer, American soldiers would be proud to fight beside you.. Thank You...

75 Tique
We ALL get caught saying something without knowing the hole story. The best part of the story is the remorce shown when the facts were known. A story like this remines me that I don't like the taste of my foot.