Air Show

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp

Subject: A Wake Up Call From Luke AFB, AZ
Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded bycivilization that complains about the noise from the base and itsplanes, forgetting that it was there long before they were.A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on theback. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFBwrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s thatdisturbed his/her day at the mall. When that individual read theresponse 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 forthe morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 a.m., atight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over ArrowheadMall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet.Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we needthis wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers atMervyns early bird special? Any response would be appreciated."The response:Regarding "A wake-up call from Luke's jets" (Letters, Thursday): OnJune 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four-ship flybyof F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flewover the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques.
Capt. Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationedat Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, MemorialDay. At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered atSunland 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 ofthe jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, theplaying 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 Presidentof the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and womenwho understand the sacrifices they have endured. A four-ship flybyis a display of respect the Air Force pays to those who give theirlives in defense of freedom. We are professionalaviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letterwriter witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimaterespects.
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 tothe widow and parents of Capt. Fresques, and thank them for you, forit was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorableformation of their lives.
Lt. Col. Scott PleusCO 63rd Fighter SquadronLuke AFB