SACRIFICE

Two things I try hard to not do in this column- talk politics and use large pieces by other people. I am going to break both rules today and talk about the one year anniversary of our country’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Many people may not remember that this fight started more than 40 years ago when the Soviet Union invaded that country. Those days were a time when our stated goal was to keep the Soviet Union from expanding and taking over more countries. As a result of that policy small groups of American servicemen were sent to aid the Afghani people in their resistance. In the early 1980’s that came to include the unit I was in. Thanks to Democratic party resistance to helping the people of Afghanistan, our support was cut short, some of our people left behind to make their own way home, and some irretractable enemies made. Some of you might remember one of them- He became known as Osama bin Laden. He was just one of the fighters against the Russian invasion that the Democratic leadership in Congress betrayed.

When 9-11 happened, our country again chose to become involved over there in an attempt to help the Afghani people have a safer and more peaceful life, along with making our lives safer as well. For the last two decades our men and women of the armed forces have served with dignity and devotion while the political machine in Washington has done many things to keep them from succeeding. As a result thousand have died serving our country, and tens of thousands have been injured in many different ways. Last year the new administration again abandoned our people, friends, and the people of Afghanistan. The results have been tragic. But the worst part of it for me has been that fact that “official Washington” doesn’t care about the people we lost.

As a way of summing up the difference between Washington and the rest of the country I offer this article, now a bit over 20 years old, about the two most important sacrifices we as Americans can be thankful for. I apologize for not recalling what publication it is originally from.

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“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-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' 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 fly by, 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 fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives 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. 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. Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF”