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[Admiral]

Luke Air Force Base is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilians that complain 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 the base 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: 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 Captain 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 9:00 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 he or she 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 two 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

[hdhog1]

  I read that a few days ago.  It's great.  About time some big mouth got spanked for being so selfish.  Thanks Admiral, I loved it again.

[Buy early]

Wanted to share this with this forum as I know many are military and derserving of our undying gratitude!

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'. On June 15, at
precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron, stationed 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 bestows upon those who give their lives in the 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

[VaEagle]

More info here :
http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp

[CVOJOE]

Hooo-Rah! Now perhaps the civilian will appreciate that those same fighters overhead are also the ones keeping his ass free enough to write the newspaper in the first place. 

[iski]

Received this in email a while ago.  Very good story - very well written.  Very moving, also.

I have ZERO sympathy for people who moved into a home LONG after a AFB has been established.  Or an airport of any kind, for that matter.

[Admiral]

I served as well.
USAF  1971-1975

[Hoist!]

I served as well.
USAF  1971-1975

Thank you all again for your service to this Great Nation, and for preserving and protecting our freedom!!!

And congrats on this, your 1Kth Tom. You can go pick up your award now!

Hoist!

[SJHR COMA-TOAST]

Everytime I see jets or so called Tom Cruise wanna be's I thank GOD that they are there to fight for our safety and freedom. That they are WILLING to die to keep US safe and free. I feel that if you move close to an AFB then you should expect the loud Tom Cruise flybys, so I say just deal with it or move somewhere in the country where you dont have to listen to everyday noise around an AFB.

[Admiral]

Welcome from Admiral

 

Go to New Member Section tell us about your self and post some pictures of your bike

[hard10]

Received this in email a while ago.  Very good story - very well written.  Very moving, also.

I have ZERO sympathy for people who moved into a home LONG after a AFB has been established.  Or an airport of any kind, for that matter.

Living in very close proximity to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, I will never forget the eerie feeling on September 12, 2001 when there was not a single plane in the air. We hear the planes constantly as they practice "carrier landings" and maneuvers and it is a welcoming sound.
The sign in front of MCAS Bft reads: "The 'noise' you hear is the sound of Freedom"  

[iski]

Living in very close proximity to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, I will never forget the eerie feeling on September 12, 2001 when there was not a single plane in the air. We hear the planes constantly as they practice "carrier landings" and maneuvers and it is a welcoming sound.
The sign in front of MCAS Bft reads: "The 'noise' you hear is the sound of Freedom"  

"Sound of Freedom"  - great way to describe it, AJ.  As a young kid, I watched vapor trails in the sky & dreamed of the day when I would be a fighter pilot.  Found out later that nearsighted guys with astigmatism did not have much of a chance at it.

Remember that time after 9/11 myself - no planes except for some Air Force fighters that were doing regular flybys over Tallahassee.

CPotIGMoS - heckuva title!

[FNGw/08SERK]

Living in very close proximity to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, I will never forget the eerie feeling on September 12, 2001 when there was not a single plane in the air. We hear the planes constantly as they practice "carrier landings" and maneuvers and it is a welcoming sound.
The sign in front of MCAS Bft reads: "The 'noise' you hear is the sound of Freedom"  

Good stuff AJ 

[RedDevil]

There used to be, and still may be, a sign on the road outside of Master Jet Base, NAS Oceana, Virginia, that was proudly placed by the U.S. Navy for the benefit of the citizens that lived around Oceana, and those passing by when the then F-14s were doing their touch and goes.  It simply said:  "The sound you hear, is the sound of freedom."    Ya gotta love it!!

  

USN (Ret) 1973-1999

[hard10]

...

CPotIGMoS - heckuva title!

You actually have been the first to mention it. It was bestowed upon me compliments of our own Spiderman!