This is the thanks they get.

[sw]

Got this email today from a friend in the AF today, he also sent a personal one with pictures from one of his relatives, the first man who died in Iraq from Alaska, with personal pictures taken in Iraq. Those pictures need to be posted, maybe I can git er done.




A wake-up call from Luke AFB, Arizona:

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 morning piece & quiet. 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 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. Scott Pleus
CO 63rd Fighter Squadron
Luke Air Force Base, Arizona

[passin thru]

WOW

[Red Robin]

Our military men and women are certainly professionals aren't they. They make me proud. What a wonderful response. They can fly over my house all they want. God Bless them.

[kolanuraven]

We have the Ranger training base for the 82nd AB near by. Once on a training mission they hovered close to the ground w/ a helicopter and all these guys bailed out on ropes etc in my hay field. It's a huge open space w/ no obstructions.

They didn't see my cows in the nearby pasture....I thought those girls were gonna climb the trees it freaked them out so bad!!! Scared me too as I didn't know what the heck was going on!!!

I guess the Commander or whomever felt soooooo bad they sent me a HUGE bouquet of roses and a note and said to tell the cows they were sorry!!!

Afterwards we all had a laff and a drink about it....I think everyone, 2 legged or 4 legged, got spooked on that day!!!

[ranchwife]

awesome post, sw!! hope it left the complainer a little more humble!!