This "Letter to the Editor" was sent to a Phoenix newspaper by an anonomous writer who, in my opinion, needs to have a reality check...
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, it must have 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 [emphasis added by the blog editor], 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
Commanding Officer
63rd Fighter Squadron
Luke AFB, Arizona
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, it must have 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 [emphasis added by the blog editor], 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
Commanding Officer
63rd Fighter Squadron
Luke AFB, Arizona
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