I didn't verifiy this, but had it emailed to me and i thought it was worth sharing, true or not.
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Luke Air Force Base, west of Phoenix and is being surrounded by civilization that complains about noise from the base, forgetting that it was there long before they were. A certain officer at Luke AFB deserves a medal for his response to an idiot. Someone living near Luke wrote to the local newspaper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his day at the mall. The story checks out 100% true on snopes.com. Read 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 Rd. at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise wanna-bes feel that we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyn's early bird special?
Any response would be appreciated, Tom MacRae
Response ... a few days later in the newspaper:
Regarding 'A wake-up call from Lukes jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 am a perfectly timed four-ship flyby of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB flew over the grave of Captain Jeremy Fresques. Capt. Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke AFB and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.
At 9 am 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 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.
Lt. Col. Scott Pleus
Luke Air Force Base
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Luke Air Force Base, west of Phoenix and is being surrounded by civilization that complains about noise from the base, forgetting that it was there long before they were. A certain officer at Luke AFB deserves a medal for his response to an idiot. Someone living near Luke wrote to the local newspaper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his day at the mall. The story checks out 100% true on snopes.com. Read 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 Rd. at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise wanna-bes feel that we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyn's early bird special?
Any response would be appreciated, Tom MacRae
Response ... a few days later in the newspaper:
Regarding 'A wake-up call from Lukes jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 am a perfectly timed four-ship flyby of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB flew over the grave of Captain Jeremy Fresques. Capt. Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke AFB and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.
At 9 am 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 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.
Lt. Col. Scott Pleus
Luke Air Force Base