Noise Complaint at Luke AFB, AZ
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 their 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 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 approx-
imately 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 Mervyn's 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, Mem-
orial Day. At 9 a.m.on June 15, his family and friends gathered at
Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss o f 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 service-
men 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 avia-
tors 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 and liberty; the other for your natural
freedom.
(signed) Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF
