Honoring Those who Paid the Ultimate Price For Our Feedom

[frawin]

Below is an e-mail I recieved, I have checked and cannot verify it one way or the other, but I don't think that makes a difference, the message is a great one no matter how, when or if it happened exactly like this or not:
Subject: USAF Flyover



Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2008, 8:24 AM
Noise Complaint at Luke AFB, AZ


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 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 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 Parkin 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

[Judy Harder]

Frank,

I don't care if not true or not.........It does the job.

I wish the general public could just get over the noise that jets generate.

I think one of the saddest days for me......after 9/11 was the time we did NOT have any planes in the air and
the skys were so quite..............

There are days when the Air-National Guard use the skyways around here to practice  and I for one just enjoy their noise.
After all they are up there protecting me and mine and God bless us that it is so.

It is too bad that we have war  and the means to make war.......but Praise the Lord we live in the USA.

That is a "GOOD THING!!!"

[flo]

Frank, verification of this particular "complaint" is not necessary, but the "reply" is very necessary lest anyone forget just who is protecting their freedom every minute of every day, whether on U.S. soil or some foreign country.  Because of these brave men and women, this particular citizen has the freedom to do her complaining.   

[Diane Amberg]

My first teaching job was at an elementary school that was quite near the New Castle Air Base. The first Tuesday afternoon of every month the Air Guard did "touch and go" landings right over our building all afternoon. You could not hear to teach, so we had "stations" and independent reading and study. (We still had duck and cover drills in those days) If the kids whined about the noise, I always reminded them that those planes were practicing just like we did in school.  Perhaps we would never have to duck and cover for real if the pilots practiced hard. The kids got the message.   

[dnalexander]

I spend a lot of money going to airshows. I would love to have a free airshow. I agree it doesn't matter if this is true or not I am sure something just like it happens somewhere in America. It is a good story. I also, think that Frank by saying that he couldn't verify whether true or not is good. Many things have been posted in the forum that are said to be fact that later have been disproved. By Frank saying what he did,  he accomplished his purpose; made us think and remember about those that have died for our freedom.

David

[sixdogsmom]

Amen to all of the above posts on this thread! Thank you for sharing this Frank, it is a great story!