Sounds Like…Honor
A friend sent me this recent response to an angry reader’s question. I checked the on-line edition of the newspaper and the article/incident is legit. It is a poignant reply.
An “Opinions” letter posted in the Phoenix, Az. newspaper the “Arizona Republic” on Jun 30, 2005.
________________________________
Subject: F-16 noise complaint…
From the Arizona Republic online…..
Quote: A wake-up call from Luke’s jets
Jun. 23, 2005 12:00 AM
“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 reply is classic, and a testament to the professionalism and
heroism of the folks in the armed services. The response:
Quote: 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 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
Amen.
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I salute the men who honored a man of honor. I can only imagine how meaningful that sound was to the fallen pilot’s wife, parents and friends. LWM 143
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Open mouth — insert entire leg!! *DOH* I hope that has the little weasel scuttling back into his hole.
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That’s awesome!
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take care,
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perfect.
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wow.
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A very classy response to someone who should be bitch slapped.
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*tearing up* This is so hard for me. On the 4th, we watched our community parade. Throughout the parade via veterans and military trucks and other equipment – our armed services was represented. All along the parade route, as they passed, people gave them a standing ovation. It was like the wave. The smallest of children to the oldest citizen – standing and applauding. I cried.
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**grin** I love a good slap down! But seriously, who’s still sleeping at 9:15? Don’t these people have lives?
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ryn: what if i don’t want to eat at home? But I got a serious case of the “guilts” last night…couldn’t sleep…ugh…I guess I need to hook up with an experienced cheater š
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HA! I grew up directly across the street from Davis Monthan in Tucson. We grew up under the flight path, and it eventually became white noise to us. Incidentally, these airforce bases predate when I’d say..99% of homeowners bought their homes. But, people just aren’t happy unless they’ve got something to be mad about.;
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love this! the world is full of idiots.
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ryn: were the sex changed?
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My folks live not far from the Luke Auxillary (sp?) range…very close, in fact. (Will be moving near there soon myself). I grew up not far from Luke. It is still such an honor to watch and listen. Sometimes people will never get it, do they?
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Or will they? Hugs,
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Ouch. That’s gotta hurt. It was a classy reply.
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RYN: Plumbago IS a lower back problem – all that stooping to plant does get to one eventually!
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wow…thanks for sharing this.
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Awesome!
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Amen to that answer. I couldn’t have said it any better than he did. I hope that complainer $hits green worms all week!
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RYN: Hey, get in line. ALl the guys at the office have been dropping by for some samples. They say it’s for a friend…hee..Actually, one young stud said that he didn’t need it but that it enhanced the existing assets. So, ya know, it’s not like I can argue!
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Very moving… I’m really glad you shared this.
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ryn: yeah…the greatest marketing sentence ever written:,,,”if you experience an erection that lasts 4 hours or more, see your doctor immediately.”
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very poignant indeed
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RYN: I buy them by the gross!
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You brat! I swear, after I wrote that I thought, “Someone’s gonna send that to the gutter and it’s probably gonna be Phaedrus.”
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Just stopping by. What a great entry.
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RYN: Yeah… you don’t have to tell me twice!
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Amazing and moving entry. Thank you. And thank you for the note. You’re right, I think. At least, that’s how it felt.
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What we don’t know or understand is sometimes very embarrassing and painful for others. A fine example here. I wonder how often we make the same mistakes in our daily lives and especially within different cultures. I’m glad you posted this, Phaedrus. Thank you for another heads up. Kindess regards to you, and thank you for your supportive notes about my father. All best wishes,
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ryn: fixer upper? surely not! I’m a classic with very high grade materials..lol.
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RYN 7/17 – You’re right. Vey wise words. Thank you.
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Grace under pressure.
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How are you these days my Good man ?
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r. It IS a Northern Exposure! How’d you know?!! There is no such thing as direct lighting in my world. PS — I will send you that email soon.
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It’s amazing how people are sometimes…from the organization here that is trying to “free” this island from the noise of the jets flying overhead, to the idiots who think it’s funny to shine bright lights in the pilots’ eyes…the noise complaints are myriad here. It makes me so angry. That sound they’re hearing? That “annoying” sound from the “Tom Cruise wannabes”? It’s the sound of freedom.
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I saw this at http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp. The poor original letter writer got reamed, not just in the paper, but by people who were harrassing him by phone. He wrote another letter apologizing and saying he hadn’t meant to be disrespectful, blah blah. His 1st letter was kneejerk and shouldn’t have been written, but it sounded like some were overly harsh in reply
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ryn: I think there must be something wrong with your mouse! It works for me!
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Well. Here I am. All caught up. Ya know. You really have to update more.
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Double Amen! What a great answer.
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missed this entry….was this for real?
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