This was sent to me from my secretary's nephew who is stationed at Luke AFB.

s
>
>     Subject: A wake-up call from Luke AFB, Arizona:
>
>     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 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 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
>

AMEN

SUPER DUPER

that is great

Spank.

I hope someone feels like an ass now!!

That should have to hurt alot more than I'm sure it did when that idiot read the response...

How stupid does that guy feel

"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.

OMFG The hair on my arms are standing up.
EDIT again, tears in my eyes

Quoted: I hope someone feels like an ass now!!

I think he does:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp

WOW

That was the most respectful verbal b*tch slap I have ever seen.

www.channel3000.com/news/8218694/detail.html

Good thing no one at the mall was bothered.......................

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?

This is bass ackwards.  Tom Cruise wannabes!  Give me a break.  It is Cruise who is the wannabe.

At least the guy, once informed of what was happening, wrote a letter apologizing:

Regarding "Flyby honoring fallen comrade" (Letters, June 28): I read with increasing embarrassment and humility the response to my unfortunate letter to The Republic concerning an Air Force flyby ("A wake-up call from Luke's jets," Letters, June 23). I had no idea of the significance of the flyby, and would never have insulted such a fine and respectful display had I known. I have received many calls from the fine airmen who are serving or have served at Luke, and I have attempted to explain my side and apologized for any discomfort my letter has caused. This was simply an uninformed citizen complaining about noise. I have been made aware in both written and verbal communications of the four-ship flyby, and my heart goes out to each and every lost serviceman and woman in this war in which we are engaged. I have been called un-American by an unknown caller and I feel that I must address that. I served in the U.S. Navy and am a Vietnam veteran. I love my country and respect the jobs that the service organizations are doing. Please accept my heartfelt apologies.

Gotta give him credit for that.

Quoted: Quoted: I hope someone feels like an ass now!! I think he does: http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp

Damn. He must have caught some major flak.

Quoted: WOW That was the most respectful verbal b*tch slap I have ever seen.

+1.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I hope someone feels like an ass now!! I think he does: http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp Damn. He must have caught some major flak.

Oh, he did.

Quoted: Quoted: I hope someone feels like an ass now!! I think he does: http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp

You'd think that Snopes could have at leat found a four-jet formation of actual F-16s.

Quoted: Quoted: I hope someone feels like an ass now!! I think he does: http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp

Made the above link hot:
Snopes: Wake-Up Call

To his credit, the complainant, Mr. MacRae, tendered a written apology which was published in The Republic on 9 July: Regarding "Flyby honoring fallen comrade" (Letters, June 28): I read with increasing embarrassment and humility the response to my unfortunate letter to The Republic concerning an Air Force flyby ("A wake-up call from Luke's jets," Letters, June 23). I had no idea of the significance of the flyby, and would never have insulted such a fine and respectful display had I known. I have received many calls from the fine airmen who are serving or have served at Luke, and I have attempted to explain my side and apologized for any discomfort my letter has caused. This was simply an uninformed citizen complaining about noise. I have been made aware in both written and verbal communications of the four-ship flyby, and my heart goes out to each and every lost serviceman and woman in this war in which we are engaged. I have been called un-American by an unknown caller and I feel that I must address that. I served in the U.S. Navy and am a Vietnam veteran. I love my country and respect the jobs that the service organizations are doing. Please accept my heartfelt apologies. Tom MacRae, Peoria6

tag

Sometimes the hardest bitch slaps are delivered the most quietly.  

When you hear(Air Force,Navy,Marine,or Army)flying by,it is the sound of FREEDOM!

Had I been in that mall,I'da pushed old ladies n baby strollers outta the way just to see them go by.

He apologized.  We all do stupid things.  That is all.

!S to Capt Jeremy Fresques.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I hope someone feels like an ass now!! I think he does: http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp You'd think that Snopes could have at leat found a four-jet formation of actual F-16s.

Yeah,it's been awhile since we've had 106's in the inventory.

Quoted: When you hear(Air Force,Navy,Marine,or Army)flying by,it is the sound of FREEDOM! Had I been in that mall,I'da pushed old ladies n baby strollers outta the way just to see them go by.

Me too!

Quoted: Spank.

and a half

PWNED!

I dont doit often but...
Bravo Zulu to the USAF on this one!

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I hope someone feels like an ass now!! I think he does: http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp You'd think that Snopes could have at leat found a four-jet formation of actual F-16s.

beat me to it.

and "Tom Cruise wannabees"?  I dont think any AF pilot I have met (a lot of them) would ever say they aspire to be in the Navy, let alone to be Tom Cruise.

that guy apologized, but that doesn't cover up being an asshat.  You can't fix stupid.  Even if it had been 4 pilots just fucking around and buzzing the mall, this guy should STFU.  Those pilots are DIRECTLY responsible for his freedom to go to the mall that day in the first place.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I hope someone feels like an ass now!! I think he does: http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp You'd think that Snopes could have at leat found a four-jet formation of actual F-16s. beat me to it. and "Tom Cruise wannabees"?  I dont think any AF pilot I have met (a lot of them) would ever say they aspire to be in the Navy, let alone to be Tom Cruise. that guy apologized, but that doesn't cover up being an asshat.  You can't fix stupid.  Even if it had been 4 pilots just fucking around and buzzing the mall, this guy should STFU.  Those pilots are DIRECTLY responsible for his freedom to go to the mall that day in the first place.

They couldn't make the grade.  Ours land on wee bitty, moving airfields.

My wife lead the Honor Guard firing party that did the gun salute. Stupid people like that, who have never even thought of the sacrifices given for our country, really need to learn a little respect.

I can't really blame the guy for not knowing what was going on.

On the other hand, I can certainly blame him for shooting off his mouth  to the paper to complain without attempting to contact the AFB  and find out for himself.

Quoted: and "Tom Cruise wannabees"?  I dont think any AF pilot I have met (a lot of them) would ever say they aspire to be in the Navy, let alone to be Tom Cruise.

[dirty harry]Man's got to know his limitations[/dirty harry]