Noise Complaint

[djnocturnal]

here is an email I got at work the other day regarding a noise complaint at Luke.
good read!



Subject: Noise Complaint (Worth The Read)


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 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 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, the other for your
freedom.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF