Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
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 certain 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, I hope it stung quite a bit.
The complaint:
"Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, 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, 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 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. Scott Pleus
CO 63rd Fighter Squadron
Luke AFB
Catherine Long
Airfield Manager
COM (210) 925-5880
DSN 945-5880
FAX 925-5785
"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."
- Ronald Reagan
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, I hope it stung quite a bit.
The complaint:
"Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, 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, 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 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. Scott Pleus
CO 63rd Fighter Squadron
Luke AFB
Catherine Long
Airfield Manager
COM (210) 925-5880
DSN 945-5880
FAX 925-5785
"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."
- Ronald Reagan
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VERY NICE!!![:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D] 0 -
Maybe she'll think twice before her triffling lil smartass complaints now. 0 -
http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp
Guess the complainer got alot of harrassment for writing that in the paper.[:D][:D]0 -
Thanks 0 -
If You don't like Aircraft flying over head. Don't buy a house near a airport. Dumb Azz! 0 -
The individual that complained, apparently after taking a lot of heat, issued an apology, but I'm baffled by part of his statement. He says "I served in the U.S. Navy and am a Vietnam veteran. I love my country and respect the jobs that the service organizations are doing." I would have accepted the apology from one of the unwashed masses, but this individual theoretically is a veteran. What kind of veteran would make such an asinine complaint to start with?[:(]
As a veteran I would have considered that sound overhead as "The Sound of Freedom"!0 -
my respects to the officers and airforce
but what in the world do you need to be shooping for in a mall at 9 in the morning[?]0 -
Good post. 0 -
Good post. 0 -
+1 my respects to the officers and airforce
As an ex member of the USAF I find the sound of those fighters comforting, even in the wee hours of the morning.[;)] Knowing there are folks awake and watching our backs at all times reminds me of how lucky we are to live in this country.0 -
quote:Originally posted by linthicum
If You don't like Aircraft flying over head. Don't buy a house near a airport. Dumb Azz!
+1
And pay attention to the formation - it might just reveal something to you.0 -
For years my family lived in the flight path of McClellan AFB, where my Dad worked as an Engineer.
We enjoyed the jet's roar and called it "The Sound of Security".
I guess it was - we never got nuked.
Thank you, Airmen.
Doug0 -
In Idaho I live in the flight path of Boise Airport. It is a shared airport between civilian and military aircraft. I too refer to the sounds of the louder military aircraft as "The Sound Of Freedom" and do not mind the jets one little bit.
I can't imagine the mindset or the thought process of this asshat that wrote to the paper.0 -
9 in the morning -- wake-up call ???
I can't recall a time when I have ever slept in till 9.
Why do people move to a place and demand that what/who was there before switch their lifestyle to be more of a benefit to the newbies?
We in Maine (Lobsterman) have had some complaints from out-of-staters that we shouldn't be allowed to leave for haul till a later hour because 300hp+ unmuffled engines are too loud and wake them up. We usually leave the mooring at 4:30. Easy solution, don't move up here. They definitely wouldn't have enjoyed it when most boats were gas and louder.0 -
'Tis the sound that freedom makes. I'd worry more when I didn't hear them any more. God bless them. 0 -
sounds like the relatives of the same jacka$$ that wrote my home town paper griping about the cannon fire @ dawn on the fourth of july.
ungreatful bastid's0
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