Friday, August 29, 2008

Complaint To The Military (How dare they??)

Complaint to the Military (Read this)
  
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 their 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 and liberty; the other for your natural freedom.
 
(signed) 
Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF

 'Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.

~John Wayne~

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've read this, and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!  I can't imagine anyone who would complain about such a wonderful site anyway.... the noise would serve as a reminder to pray for those fighting on our behalf!!

Joann

Anonymous said...

I recently posted something I thought was true and a kind reader pointed out that it was on snopes to be false.I am happy to say -this story is TRUE...
http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR SOLDIERS
HUGS
~connie~

Anonymous said...

thanks for your comments on my journal; I really enjoyed this entry of yours; so sad people would complain about something like this, not even knowing it was for a funeral of someone who was serving our country

hope you are having a good day

betty