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What a letter!

4nford4nford"Live wrong and Perspire"
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, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyn's early bird special?

Any response would be appreciated.

The response:

Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four- ship fly by 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 fly by, 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 fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives 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.

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.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr.

USAF
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v8capriv8capriMember
I like it, nice polite, and very true.
It is amazing what the soldiers do to protect us, ( in my case the aussie soldier)
I don't know about you guys but down under you grow up a bit shielded from all these bad things that happen. We would say ... go to the police !, but for these people this is not possible.
My Father ( who was Italian) used to say Australia is the 'lucky country' after seeing what happens in some parts of the world, I have to say I believe him.
( not preaching on how good Australia is, but saying how bad life can be in the middle east)
accobraaccobraMember
SPEACHLESS !!!

I have a similiar encounter almost once a day ... and never even think to complain. I live south of STEWART Airforce Base and I look up in amazment when a C-130 or a C-5 fly over my neighborhood. I would say they are reasonably low to the ground ..since we are about 15 miles away ... the NEw York National Guard delivers supplys and equiment daily to IRAQ ... its some sight to see those massive planes flying and another the thought of their Mission.

Some people just dont get it and never will.

Ron
O osofastMember
Very businesslike and informative.
I grew up in Newport News, Virginia. I was blessed to have lived near two air fields. Langley Air Force Base, and Norfolk Naval Air Station.
I felt privledged to have these serviceman near us. I was very lucky to have had the pleasure to have seen a F-117 Stealth Fighter on its glide path into Langley for that weekends air show. The sound of a C-5 is so one off you know what that screaming turbine is from. I have got to see a B-2 Bomber making a fly-by(and setting off every car alarm for miles!)
I was working on the Naval Base in Norfolk and got to have the Thunderbirds fly right over top of me!!!
I was home a couple of years ago the news had stories of some groups who were making it their lifes work to sue the air bases because of the noise. What a joke, those bases have been around for so long. If it wasnt for the military not much would be in the Tidewater area. These people move in and think they can control the government???? Who do they think give us our freedoms???
Jeff
pittcrewpittcrewOwner etc. of 3785
I have lived and worked in the flight path of the Jets that go in and out of Hill Air Force Base here in Utah my whole life.

When I was a little kid I always looked up to see the planes go over. Today I still do...

I feel great knowing they are there defending our country. Like someone once told me,
"Its the sound of freedom."
marlinjackmarlinjackThe Machinist #5723 AMARGOSA MACHINE 'Running on Empty- Middle of Nowhere'
AMEN. I love the sound of any Jet that flys overhead! It's the sound of Freedom! Power! Protection! AMERICA! These Idiots don't have the brains to realize what sacrifice it takes to give them the previlage to write a letter of complaint, and have it 'Heard'. These are people who have never, and will never accomplish anything worthwhile in their entire liftime. May God bless and keep the 'Lost Pilot' and His Family! As a past Veteran, I Salute You!...
shotgungroomsshotgungroomsMember
I e-mailed the letter to my wife (her PC is like 12" from mine). She googled it and found this:



The complainant, Mr. MacRae, tendered a written apology which was published in The Republic on 9 July:
Regarding "Flyby honoring fallen comrade" (Letters, June 28):

I read with increasing embarrassment and humility the response to my unfortunate letter to The Republic concerning an Air Force flyby ("A wake-up call from Luke's jets," Letters, June 23).

I had no idea of the significance of the flyby, and would never have insulted such a fine and respectful display had I known.

I have received many calls from the fine airmen who are serving or have served at Luke, and I have attempted to explain my side and apologized for any discomfort my letter has caused.

This was simply an uninformed citizen complaining about noise.

I have been made aware in both written and verbal communications of the four-ship flyby, and my heart goes out to each and every lost serviceman and woman in this war in which we are engaged.

I have been called un-American by an unknown caller and I feel that I must address that. 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.

Please accept my heartfelt apologies.

Tom MacRae, Peoria6
G gtpoweredMember
I can understand the guys letter although I never would send it. Even though I live probably 20 miles from Luke they changed the flight path several years ago to go directly over my house at approx 1000 feet or so. This sometimes is all day long every half hour or so until 11 at night. It is so loud I can't hear the TV with all the doors and windows closed. Luke is a training facility for foreign military pilots so it isn't always our military flying the planes. I just consider it to the greater good of the U.S. and don't complain though I do understand peoples frustration when they don't live anywhere near the base and the base changes the flight path.
T tomsealbeachMember
What a thoughtful response. There are few times (this is one) where a grip is met with such a profound answer that the gripper must have wanted to crawl into a hole and not come out.

I live within 1 mile of the Joint Forces Base in Seal Beach and just outside their flight path but very close so I always get to see modern marvels we have defending us. Not fequently enough, I have the pleasure of watching F-14's, C-5's, C-17's, A-10 Warthogs and even once Air Force One fly in or out of the base. Right after 9/11, I was watching the news coverage on the Twin Towers collapse and heard somthing flying that I had never hear before...three A-10's flying almost directly over my house(not the usual flight path)...actually got me concerned because in the previous 8 years of living here I had never heard those planes before, and at the time of 9/11 you start thinking now what. But once I saw them I relized they were probably being mobilized for something related. Often I think how lucky we are not to be on the delivering end of what we have.

So many great comments on this thread, but I can relate to what Marlin Jack said "It's the sound of Freedom! Power! Protection! AMERICA! and God bless that soldier being soluted who gave it all so I can sit on my computer on Sunday mornings and say pretty much what I feel.
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