http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp
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
> > 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 wri ter'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.
Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF
Luke AFB
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