NOISE COMPLAINT AT LUKE AFB:

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. Imagine our
good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabe's feel we need this wake-up
call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns earlybird
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 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 and the people 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 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.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF

P.S. 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.

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/l/lukeafb.htm

Hey Nae Nae, its here.

TY Shelly Belly!

Up until just about a month ago, I lived just outside of NAB Oceana, under a major flight path. Although most of the population didn't care and was happy to embrace "the sound of freedom" (many through bumper stickers saying the same!) there were some that complained. Funny thing is that the complainers got money via a lawsuit. That really irked me. Live near an airbase and live with the noise. Got to be that I didn't notice it when I was inside and when I was outside and the flight path was directly over, I couldn't help but look up in awe. They are my heroes. GO NAVY!! (or Airforce... )

I know thats all I have lived near both houses were within 2 miles of the runway and I got to where I never heard them. Seems like a little noise is such a small price to pay...some peoples ungratefulness is just irking!

Hats off to the LtC for his answer!!


I hope the person who complained feel like a turd now!!

I'm sure the base was there before everyone started moving in. So DEAL WITH IT!!

We have somewhat the same situation here in Jersey.

Huge developments of McMansions are springing up all over the [former] Garden state and the people buying these houses are complaining about the smell from the surrounding farms. Hello, didn't you look AROUND before you purchased your McMansion????

Duh, makes you wonder if people really use the brains God gave them??

The complaint made me mad but the response made me cheer! Some people are just so self-absorbed.....they think the whole world revolves around them.

I hope that person felt 2 inches tall when he read that response.

This is the United States of America. Nobody is holding a gun to their head telling them that they have to live there. Don't like it...then move!

I thought they were simply waking my on my birthday, I remember it well. Shook the whole house. Thanks for killing my vision that it was "all for me" (kidding)

I grew up not far from Nellis Airforce Base and as a kid we loved to watch the jets flying over. Back then they would break the sound barrier and the cracking sound would make us all stop what we were doing followed by "that was so cool."

We even had to replace a window once. Never considered calling the base and complaining, instead dad just had it replaced with a plexi-glass type of window.

The way I see it is I had a front row seat to the Thunderbirds practicing almost everyday, then when they had the show we just sat on the back wall and watched the show. Now we take the kids to the base and make a day of it when they put on the air show.

Yeah, there are people complaining about the noise, these are newbies to our city and they complain about everything. There is a big controversy now about the small airport because we had 2 plane crashes into houses in the last month. Yes that is very bad but when I moved to my house I knew the local airport was there and did not buy the cheaper house because it was cheaper for a reason.

A little off topic of the planes--people bought houses by the pig farm that has been there over 40 years (yes we have a pig farm in Vegas) When you are getting close to the farm you know it so why would you buy a house and save a few thousand then not expect to smell some pigs???? Mike Rowe of dirty jobs did an episode at the pig farm. It was too funny!

So I say to the complainers---move to a desert island and have all the peace you want, to me jet noise means freedom...Sue

Bravo to the Lt.Colonel for his tempered response! Well said!

As a former AF brat who grew up on bases all over the world, I still stop and watch the planes land when I go past a base. I still look up and say a prayer when a formation flies over my workplace late at night, headed for refueling at the Guard base near me. I can still identify different planes and run my mouth about their special qualities and what they are used for. Watching touch and go landings takes me right back to my childhood when that was the Friday night entertainment for my family, parking at the end of the runway and eating our sandwiches and my Dad yelling "Everyone DUCK! He's coming in again!!"

I was and would still be honored to live on or near an air base. There's nothing like a soldier in full dress uniform to get me smiling...