[Vision2020] Military support?

[Matt Decker]

Here is one for the memory bank.


>
>    Subject:  A wake-up call from Luke AFB, Arizona:
>
>
>    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 day 
>at t! he 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 Ba! se: 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
>
>
>            God Bless America and Keep Our Troops Safe
>

Matt D
>

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