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Love and Honor
Many of our contributors make donations on
behalf of someone they love during a special occasion or
celebration. It doesn't matter what the event or celebration,
it can be a birthday, wedding, bat mitzvah, baptism, graduation
or retirement, any occasion is possible and in lieu of gifts
a donation is made to support our military families affected
by the loss of a loved one. These are all special funds
that have been made on behalf of the following:
In Honor of:
Robert H. Kerr, USMC, Retired
Ed Miller
John Knox, USMC, Retired
Lt. Col Von Holle
In Celebration and on behalf of:
The Dowd Wedding Guests
The Handley Wedding Guests
Jaclyn, Valeri & Carolyn's 16th Birthday
The Bride & Groom, Mr. & Mrs. Wall
The Versino Wedding Guests
The Givargidze Wedding Guests
K. Salazar's 1st birthday
D. Morgan's baptism
There is no better way to show our support
of our troops than through our words of encouragements.
Whether this be through a letter, story, thought or poem
that you wish to share.
They need now more than ever to know that we are here for them.
May God Bless our men and women fighting for freedom and return them safely
home.
A Wake-Up Call From Luke AFB in Arizona
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" (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
MSgt Valerie A. Smith
Det. 1 548th CTS
Superintendent / Weather O/C
7078 Pennsylvania Loop
Ft. Polk, LA 71459
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