To the editor:

Last week I attended a local briefing with Congressman Randy Forbes in which he talked about the importance of the F-35 jet and how it will position our military to maintain air superiority.

As a disabled Navy veteran, I am encouraged that elected officials like Forbes are committed to protecting our military and giving them state-of-the-art tools.

The F-35 is a fifth-generation fighter, which means that we could deter and, if necessary, defeat the enemy before they can even see us coming.

As a lifelong resident of Portsmouth and Virginia Beach, I’ve come to know that jet noise is the beautiful sound of freedom.

Eric V. Wray II

Virginia Beach