Wow what a Letter!

[R1100R]

Sent to me by my Sister in law

****************************************************************************

Subject: WOW What a Letter

True Story.....

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 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' 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,

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 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 servicemen 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 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 airshow?' 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, the other for your freedom.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr.

USAF

[Guest benchpresspower]

BAM, gotta love that.

[Guest db99wj]

Wow, just wow and Amen.

[Guest ColePersonalSafety]

Whooya and git you some. Amen. I love it.

[Guest ColePersonalSafety]

Whooya and git you some. Amen. I love it.

[Guest proudsuthrner]

i bet the letter writer feels like now knowing the reason behind it. and its not like it was at 0500. it was 0911. if you dont like the noise.. move lol

[Guest bkelm18]

i bet the letter writer feels like now knowing the reason behind it. and its not like it was at 0500. it was 0911. if you dont like the noise.. move lol

If the letter writer is some whiney left winger like they sound, I doubt they give a flip about why the jets were flying.

[Raoul]

Pretty impressive and touching. Did anybody google it?

[Mike.357]

Snopes calls this one true.

Pilot was KIA in 2005

[oldogy]

The original letter writer did submit a letter of apology.

oldogy

[mk19]

NICE!, goose bumps.

[USMCJG]

Lt.Col. Rosensteel's response was absolute perfection. As oldogy said the original letter writer did apologize. The most shocking part is that he was a Vietnam veteran.

Edited July 10, 2009 by USMCJG

[Guest 3pugguy]

Sent to me by my Sister in law

****************************************************************************

Subject: WOW What a Letter

True Story.....

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 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' 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,

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 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 servicemen 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 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 airshow?' 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, the other for your freedom.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr.

USAF

There is nothing more moving than seeing the fly by and the missing man movement. When the first A-6 crew was lost in Gulf War I, I was stationed at Whidbey Island, Wa and I will never forget seeing the fly by after the service for Costin and Turner (the crew of the Intruder that was lost).

And as a former air traffic controller, the a-holes who buy or build a house within an exisiting noise zone (and they are told, per federal law) and then whine like a hungry hound puppy, I am glad this AF Officer put those jackwads in place. Likely, they have no understanding - none - of the significance of the event.

My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of this lost pilot and all our KIA's families.

[Motasyco]

[Guest Ranger Rick]

Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and

the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

Best line that I think I've ever read. Just WOW

and

[Falcon1]

The original letter writer did submit a letter of apology.

oldogy

He did indeed, a rather humble one, IIRC.

[Wrangler]

That is a great response.

[Guest tdtennessee]

anybody still have his reply after hearing thats what it was

[Currently]

NICE!, goose bumps.

Yeah ... like ten thousand of them!

Awesome to see that Snopes verified as TRUE!

That is a letter that will go down in history.

Amen!