[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for posting this! Having been around AFB’s my entire adult life, I have had the dishonor of living around people like the letter writer. The bases have been there for years, they build a housing complex, and then people complain about noise. In some instances the Air Force has decided to close a base and move to less populated areas and then the people that complained the loudest then complain because they moved.

This is the best response I have ever read to a complaint.

[villagerjoel]

Anyone have a photo of the sign they have in Beaufort, SC that says, “The Noise You Hear is the Sound of Freedom?”

[savedbygrace]

This was the apology which was published in The Republic on 9 July:

I read with increasing embarrassment and humility the response to my unfortunate letter to The Republic concerning an Air Force flyby ("A wake-up call from Luke's jets," Letters, June 23).

I had no idea of the significance of the flyby, and would never have insulted such a fine and respectful display had I known.

I have received many calls from the fine airmen who are serving or have served at Luke, and I have attempted to explain my side and apologized for any discomfort my letter has caused.

This was simply an uninformed citizen complaining about noise.

I have been made aware in both written and verbal communications of the four-ship flyby, and my heart goes out to each and every lost serviceman and woman in this war in which we are engaged.

I have been called un-American by an unknown caller and I feel that I must address that. I served in the U.S. Navy and am a Vietnam veteran. I love my country and respect the jobs that the service organizations are doing.

Please accept my heartfelt apologies.

Tom MacRae, Peoria

[Leisler]

We had a lefty Community College professor, buy a cheap house right up to the fence of the Army/Air Force base and then spend the next 30 years trying to get the base shut down.

He’s dead now.

Good.