[StBernard] Wake up call a must!!!!

[Westley Annis]

Luke AFB Wakeup Call


Luke AFB is southwest 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 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 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.

Grant L.  Rosensteel, Jr.


'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'
'Eternity is forever, it just happens to begin  on earth.'