Spanky
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Ultimate Sit down and STFU
« on: September 03, 2007, 06:48:42 PM » |
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I don't know if this is real or not but it was sent to me. I could see it happening though. Complaint was sent to the local paper. 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 AFB
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campy
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Re: Ultimate Sit down and STFU
« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2007, 07:01:07 PM » |
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According to Snopes it is true. The guy seemed pretty humble at the response. |
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Art Vandelay
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Re: Ultimate Sit down and STFU
« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2007, 07:33:41 PM » |
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9:12am is too early for noise? Come on.
In my neighborhood the standard is pretty much anytime after 8:00 am is fair game for whatever you may need to do. Lawn mowing, circular saw, chain saw, leaf blower, whatever. You wait until 9:00am if you really want to be extra super considerate.
After 9:00am - get your lazy arse out of bed. Unless you work third shift, get the hell up already.
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Uisce Beatha
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat From: In the Jar
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Re: Ultimate Sit down and STFU
« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2007, 07:53:22 PM » |
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Interesting that Snopes validated it. I would have sworn that story has been floating around for longer than two years. Any any rate, good response by the commander and righteous apology by the letter writer. All's well that ends well. Unfortunately this story will never end well for the Fresques family.
I have so many F-16s flying over my house it would take less effort to write a letter to the papers on days when they don't. You tend not to even hear them after a while.
BTW, I've experienced missing man flybys when paying last respects to a fallen warrior. There's not too much in this world which will bring on such powerful emotions.
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« Last Edit: September 03, 2007, 07:59:27 PM by Uisce Beatha »
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E-A-G-L-E!
Rich Corinthian Leather Jacket From: The Land of 10,000+ Slushy Ice Rinks
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Re: Ultimate Sit down and STFU
« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2007, 08:25:09 PM » |
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I really can't imagine someone complaining over noise from a jet. We have planes going over our house throughout the day. Granted, planes aren't as loud as jets, but I think it's something that people can very well be appreciative of. I mean, it's a pretty spectacular site, and it shows how far mankind has come with technology, sciences, mathematics, and etc. I wish I could see that more often. I have yet to hear a sonic boom, but that is something I'd love to hear. According to my dad, when he was growing up, jets breaking the sound barrier used to fly overhead quite a bit. My grandma has lost more than a few dishes because of it. But that's off topic.
So back on topic, I can't imagine what it would be like to read the reply to the complaint had I been the one to write it. I wish the guy's second letter would be included with that forward as well, if people are really going to bother forwarding it. But that would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it? For the family's sake especially, I wish there would be an end to the forward.
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He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. - Jim Elliot
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BFBoy
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Re: Ultimate Sit down and STFU
« Reply #5 on: September 04, 2007, 03:43:56 AM » |
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I can just imagine the letter writer, sitting around with his/her cronies, saying, "I gave those inconsiderate 'fools', (insert any other name that he/she might use), a peice of my mind. They'll know better than to come flying around here again". Then, one of his/her buddies opens the paper and reads the response out loud to the group. Hmmm. To be the fly on the wall.
I agree that the response was very humbly writen. Any other way would have much less impact. I doubt that they would forward the thanks to the family, as that would be cruel, but the mention of it is inspired.
Off topic comment about sonic booms. I remember them as a child. Whenever we would hear a jet go by, we would run out on the upstairs front porch to see if we could spot it. My dad, brother, and I were enthralled with the prospect of hearing the boom, though mom was a bit less impressed as her dished rattled a bit too much for her.
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Spartan
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Re: Ultimate Sit down and STFU
« Reply #6 on: September 04, 2007, 07:00:09 AM » |
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tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall,
continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. If I had seen this, my response would have been "Cool!" It never would have occurred to me to complain. I always stop to watch fighter jets when they fly over. Of course, if I had known why they were doing it, "Cool!" would not have been the proper response. |
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« Last Edit: September 04, 2007, 07:02:11 AM by Spartan »
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spacey
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Re: Ultimate Sit down and STFU
« Reply #7 on: September 04, 2007, 08:40:37 AM » |
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I had the misfortune of being in Washington D.C. during Reagan's funeral. Half the city was shut down, I couldn't go to the top of the Washington Memorial (they had cameras up there to film the funeral procession), the streets around the mall were nearly impassable due to people lining up for the procession, I couldn't get a cab to take me from one side of town to the other, the line to go through the Capitol Rotunda was several hours long because they had Reagan lying in state. Being that it was my first time to D.C., I really wanted to do a bunch of touristy sight-seeing crap, but after spending most of the day trying and failing, I pretty much gave up. I'm not a Reagan guy, never have been, so it made the annoyance that much more.
When I was back at the hotel, I randomly decided to walk out on the balcony that overlooked the hotel pool. At that exact moment, I heard a roar that sounded like thunder and I looked up just in time to see the F-15s (IIRC) flying the missing man formation at what seemed to be no more than 100 yards directly over my head. When the plane broke free of formation and flew straight up in the air for what felt like forever, it was unquestionably one of the coolest things I've ever seen in my life, and it literally brought tears to my eyes. It still gives me goosebumps when I think about it.
I'll have other opportunities to visit Ford's theater, but I doubt I'll ever have anything like that happen again.
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Uisce Beatha
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat From: In the Jar
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Re: Ultimate Sit down and STFU
« Reply #8 on: September 04, 2007, 09:14:05 AM » |
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Here you go.
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"If you're darker than a caramel, Reverend Al speaks for you." - Aasif Mandvi
"Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk, I'm a woman's man: no time to talk." - stroh
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worst_golfer_ever
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Re: Ultimate Sit down and STFU
« Reply #9 on: September 05, 2007, 10:23:45 AM » |
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I don't know. I'm pretty much with the complaint writer on this one. Jets flying low over your home are really horribly loud, and considering how regularly these planes crash in air shows, it's pretty dangerous too.
There are lots of ways to honor someone's military service. Flying jets in tight formation, exceedingly low, over populated areas, doesn't have to be one of them.
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BFBoy
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Re: Ultimate Sit down and STFU
« Reply #10 on: September 05, 2007, 05:29:54 PM » |
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I don't know. I'm pretty much with the complaint writer on this one. Jets flying low over your home are really horribly loud, and considering how regularly these planes crash in air shows, it's pretty dangerous too.
There are lots of ways to honor someone's military service. Flying jets in tight formation, exceedingly low, over populated areas, doesn't have to be one of them.
You've got to be kidding. |
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worst_golfer_ever
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Re: Ultimate Sit down and STFU
« Reply #11 on: September 05, 2007, 05:48:25 PM » |
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No, not at all.
So far, I haven't seen an explanation of why sending fighter jets over people's houses is a good thing - other than it's cool to watch fast planes, or that it's an emotionally charged display for a funeral. In my mind, it's unnecessary.
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BFBoy
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Re: Ultimate Sit down and STFU
« Reply #12 on: September 05, 2007, 05:55:06 PM » |
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Whatever.  Try telling that to the widow and family. I guess, coming from the Vietnam war, where there was no respect for those who gave their lives or those who served until long afterward, I appreciate the respect given to the fallen. |
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Uisce Beatha
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat From: In the Jar
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Re: Ultimate Sit down and STFU
« Reply #13 on: September 05, 2007, 05:57:36 PM » |
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No, not at all.
So far, I haven't seen an explanation of why sending fighter jets over people's houses is a good thing - other than it's cool to watch fast planes, or that it's an emotionally charged display for a funeral. In my mind, it's unnecessary. That's exactly what it is. I see it as a good thing. Even a necessary thing. One might argue funerals themselves are emotionally charged displays and unnecessary when you get right down to it. They exist to help the grievers heal. Same with the fly-bys. They illustrate in a very powerful way what the deceased means to the fellow warriors he left behind. They acknowledge his sacrifice and make it crystal clear how important it was to his family and friends. It absolutely does help with the healing process. I've seen it close up. It's cool to disagree though. If we all marched to the same tune the world would be a very boring place. |
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"If you're darker than a caramel, Reverend Al speaks for you." - Aasif Mandvi
"Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk, I'm a woman's man: no time to talk." - stroh
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MFAWG
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Re: Ultimate Sit down and STFU
« Reply #14 on: September 05, 2007, 06:15:37 PM » |
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I don't know. I'm pretty much with the complaint writer on this one. Jets flying low over your home are really horribly loud, and considering how regularly these planes crash in air shows, it's pretty dangerous too.
There are lots of ways to honor someone's military service. Flying jets in tight formation, exceedingly low, over populated areas, doesn't have to be one of them.
I think if you ever saw a missing man performed live, you might change your mind... |
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