The Freedoms "WE" Hold Dear

Just a "blog-lifted" story from my good friends' The Fishers site and thought my readers might like to read it too...I know I sure did!! This does go to show the ignorance and pure lack of respect that SOME (not all I know) Americans have for those brave men and women that protect their right to whine and complain!!

True story from the editorials of the Arizona Republic online Jun. 23, 2005:

The Complaint: A wake-up call from Luke's jets.

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-birdspecial? Any response would be appreciated.

The reply is classic, and a testament to the professionalism and heroism of the folks in the armed services.

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 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

Commander, 63rd Fighter Squadron

Luke Air Force Base

Before I Forget

Well I've been meaning to post about a few things that have happened in the last few days or so that are very important to remember and so I'll post them here so I can and so that you readers can see that the world hasn't gone COMPLETELY to H-E-double hockey sticks in a handbasket yet!! Anyway, I kinda unbeknownst to me became in charge of a squadron unaccompanied activity and so faced with the daunting task of making holiday cards for 250 or so soldiers and trying to prepare for a bazaar I was feeling quite overwhelmed and worried about making a design for these cards that would impress our commander's wife. Anyway, so I approached a friend that I know does wonderful stamping designs for a little bit of advice and some ideas. Well instead of helping me with just a template and then sending me on my way confused and bewildered as to how to stamp 250 Christmas cards without my hand falling off, she offered to help me stamp and copy all 250 that night. So between running down to my house every 15 minutes or so for 50 or more copies from my printer we got half of them done in about an hour and a half. But then the even more extraordinary thing happened and she told me to hand her the other half of the copies and that she would attach them to our cards and then all I would have to do between then and the time that we are supposed to deliver them to the airmen was hole punch them and string some pretty ribbon on them. I mean, things like that just don't happen that often and especially from people who are already busy with their own lives. Okay now that is "Post Remembrance #1." # 2 comes from my husband's recollection of an event that occurred at the commissary. We, being the wonderful parents that we are procrastinated or rather maybe just forgot to get diapers and ingredients for Sunday's dinner until Saturday night at 6:45 when the commissary closes at 7. Well Chris was "sent" to do the dirty deed and upon departure of our house Kyle decided that Daddy had left and was NEVER coming home and proceeded to tell Daddy how he felt about that and so therefore Daddy ends up with a little tagalong on his late trip to the commissary. Okay, so Chris tells me everything is going fine and he gets all things that we needed but when he got up to the register none of our bank cards would work. It's now probably 6:55 and faced with yet another trip to the ATM to try desperately to get money out to pay for these groceries, the man behind him offered to pay for the bill until we could get to the ATM since the commissary was now closed. Okay, so when I hear this for the first time from Chris I'm thinking that the only reason someone would offer to "foot the bill" for someone else would be to get them out of their way so they could get their own stuff and leave. But he told me that the man was very cordial about it and wouldn't even take the full amount of the bill for repayment. Just to show you that the human spirit is still alive and well in many people's lives around the world. Happy Holidays and I pray that we can keep the "holiday spirit" in our hearts all year long. :>)