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For those of you that don't know Luke AFB is in Arizona and is a training base for the USA. It has been there for some 50 years. It used to be so far out that it took about 3 hrs to get to it by car from Mesa. 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:

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' 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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GOOD MORNING,

WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
.........

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