Friday, July 08, 2005
Lt. Col. Scott Pleus, USAF, You Are The Man!
Captain Jeremy Fresques, fallen hero of the war for Iraqi freedom.
Seems some bonehead took exception to an F-16 formation flying low over his neighborhood in Glendale last month, and aired his complaint through the Arizona Republic as follows:
Complaint 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 response, made with the class and professionalism we have come to expect from our friends in uniform, is destined to become a classic:
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
I can't add anything to that, except:
Attaboy, Colonel! If I meet you, any of your pilots, or the fine men and women who keep 'em in the air, the first round is on me. And you can fly over my house any time you damn well please. To me, it's not noise. It's the sound of freedom.
