an email from a very good friend came my way



this is what it said



YOU'VE GOT TO READ THIS, IT IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL....."


" 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. Im agine 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. Fresque s 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 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, the other for your freedom.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr.

USAF



















How ALL phones SHOULD be answered!




GOOD MORNING,

WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
.........



Please Press '1' for English.


Press '2' to disconnect until you learn to speak English.




And remember, only two 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.







If you agree.......Keep it going














if you don't believe this ..



please don't send me a snopes disclaimer



for this sort of thing goes on all the time


we just don't always hear about it

couple of things to clear up.

i live in phoenix and no one complains about Luke because we know not to.

there is no mall near luke.

people here complain about palo verde instead. the nuclear plant is being surrounded by manufactured homes and people buy there thinking they can move the plant. not only did the plant but the government themselves told these people "duh. you moved near a nuclear plant"

but yeah.. i read the arizona republic and east/west valley tribune. i've never heard of anyone complaining about luke air force base.

Very thought provoking

hmmm.. ..well, would you agree with me that


although you have not " heard " of any one


complaining about the Air Base ,


that doesn't mean that it has not or does not happen ?






I have lived in my area as a full grown adult for over 35 years ,



more than your entire 27 years by 8 years or so


and I cannot say that i actually know all that goes on


maybe this story is not accurate


but chances are good that it is





i received it from a good friend


She is a former Army Drill Sergeant & Combat Medic




and there obviously must be some sort of mall


near or within the flight pattern of those jets

as a retired navy vet.. I always find it appalling that so much disrespect is still given to the military.. Most military men and women will tell you they don't want a war.. because they know they are the first to go to it.. yet we who served in the armed forces always accepted that willingly because we do believe in our right to be free..

its a right you earn to be able to ***** about the government ... to those who complain and never wanted to serve... get out of my country..

Lee

thank you Sir...soo much for stopping by...


I am not a Vet, but i do care

many of my Family & Friends are Vets

and I have lost Family & Friends in Wars

many of my Friends are still serving in the Armed Forces


and laying down their lives for me...


it saddens & appalls me & makes me sooo nauseous to see


the total lack of attention, or courtesy the lack of love, time or respect



the way they ignore & neglect


our awesome very worthy & noble Troops


they don't acknowledge or appreciate where their Freedom comes from


the < me oriented > decadent self centered ways


that so many American Citizens choose in which to live their lives

Obviously a lot of people are missing the point here...oh well.

By the way, last I checked a military base was NOT a "residential area"

SweetSassyMolassy Sooo Good to see you my Sister

It amazes me that people move near an air base, airport, nuclear facility, or even a trash dump...then have the nerve to complain.

I have attended more that one military funeral...and will never get use to the playing of taps or the 21 gun salute. They remind me of all who have given their lives for our freedom.

To those who have paid the ultimate price.

Thank You

Especially to Lt. Morris C. Caldwell. Shot down in 1942 in the South Pacific.

well very interesting post

but the response letter said he

""""""""to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend......
parents of Capt. Fresque s as I gave them their son's flag on """""

i am pretty sure the wife would have received the flag not the parents

and a lt col would know that


but """like i always say"""

what do i know

=============================================================

FLAGS FOR MILITARY FUNERALS:

Flags are provided for burial services of service members and veterans. The flag for one who dies on active duty is provided by one's branch of service. Flags for other veterans are provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The flag is presented to the next of kin at the end of the funeral, usually by the military chaplain.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/customs.htm

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

Veterans and next-of-kin of deceased veterans have the same rights to full access to the record. Next-of-kin are the unremarried widow or widower, son or daughter, father or mother, brother or sister of the deceased veteran.

http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/public/veterans-and-next-of-kin.html


###########################################################

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/wakeup.asp

says that it is true

SweetSassyMolassy & Grannithands & all of my Military Buddies


I love you & i am sorry for the way that some people treat you ...


it was with passion that you entered the US Military & did what you did


for Freedom & for your own personal reasons


in battle & in peace times, you were there...


and if it wasn't for you , & people like you


we would not know liberty & freedom like we do ...


and you have life experience

with such tragedies & horrors

things we will never experience





yet...

some people who have not even served their Country


think they can accuse a Veteran of this or that,



but...they have not walked even one second in your shoes...



soooo...


their comments < sad to say >

do not really matter







However...


These comments do matter


Dare Greatly


It is not the critic who counts;
nor the man who points out
how the strong man stumbled,
or where the doer of deeds
could have done better.

The credit belongs to the man
who is actually in the arena;
whose face is marred
by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly;
who errs and comes short
again and again

because there is no effort
without error and shortcomings;
who knows the great enthusiasms,
the great devotions;

who spends himself in a worthy cause;

who at best knows in the end,
the triumph of high achievement;

and who at worst,
if he fails,
at least fails while daring greatly;

so that his place shall never be
with those cold and timid souls
who know neither victory nor defeat.




~ Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919)

Wow. Talk about missing the point...

Military bases are SURROUNDED by residential areas. Unless of course, it's Area 51 or something. There was, until the government closed it down, a military base in Oscoda, Michigan which isn't too far from where I live. The base was on the edge of town, but there were homes almost right up to the gates of the base. The people at the base always made sure that when the planes were taking off, they were taking off in the direction AWAY from people's homes. That was to avoid making low passes over people's houses.

The point, as I see it, is that you got irritated because someone came in here and stated things as she sees them. You then started berating her for voicing her opinion, which, by the way, you say you were in the military to help protect.

Somehow, that seems to be a bit hypocritical to me.

i know from personal experience


that a lot of misunderstanding of one another


goes on constantly in these threads ...


cause people don't really know each other


or what is going on in their individual lives



and you don't hear the tone of voice intended


and this is often the only time you talk to someone


so, it often makes for a very misconstrued conversation ...


there are so many factors that come into play


in really getting to know someone



and we are greatly limited in many of them here














however...


it is not too hard for me to believe the story


& the scenerio I received today in an email...

I think most of you have missed the point here! I'm an ex-army ranger, and I left friends and blood on foreign soil more than once! The point to all this is without the American solider there would be no America! So remember when you get mad and start typing things here, there is one reason you have the freedom to do so, the American solider!

The problem is everyone sits at home or goes to work and never thinks of who gave them the freedom's they so freely enjoy. Its about respect for your fellow man! Soldiers are a rare breed or everyone would serve. So think before you post, and respect someone who stood between you and everyone that wants to destroy this country. And you might even go as far as to thank a solider for doing something you would not do!

My problem isn't with the story itself. Even if there are a couple of things in it that are " less than 100% accurate ".

My problem is with people who fought for this country to protect our freedoms, then proceed to berate people for voicing their opinion by using the very same freedom they fought to protect.

If you didn't want people to be able to speak their minds, especially in a public forum, then you should not have fought to protect our freedoms.

My Dad ran across someone ( another Veteran ) who was doing that to someone, and he walked up to him and asked him " What the F*CK is wrong with you?? "

I have thanked my father.

Are you saying that everyone must respect the soldier, but the soldier has a free pass when it comes to disrespecting a fellow American??

I don't think that's your intention, but that would seem to be what you are saying.

And just an FYI...I enlisted in the Army when I was 18. They didn't accept me.

Thank you sooo much



{{{ <<< Grannithands >>> }}}


You my Friend, are of a very rare breed


& we Civilians need to give great credit & much honor


where such credit & amazing honor is so nobly due

I'm saying that the problem with this country is lack of respect and honor!

I have never gotten anything for free, or been given a free pass! I demand respect, and I give respect! The point is we fought for the freedom's everyone else enjoys. And we come home to people disrespecting us for our serving! So we help you to have freedom and we are condemned for it.

You are saying it's ok to bash a solider, because you have the freedom to do so. But who gave you the freedom you to be able to speak your mind? I have been place's you would be whipped, your tongue cut out or even be killed for speaking your mind.


So please do not try to twist what I'm saying here to you agenda.

I am so backing you right now, you have no idea. This thread sickens me as of right now.