The Green Bay Packers and WPS Health Insurance paid special tribute to Wisconsin Air National Guard Lt. Col. James Lenzendorf, of Prairie du Chien, Wis., during Sunday's Packers-Eagles game for 'Operation Fan Mail.'
Currently, Lenzendorf serves as the director of operations for the Air Command Alert squadron of the 115 Fighter Wing, as part of the Homeland Defense Mission. He works 24-hour shifts in addition to his multiple flying duties to protect the air from any threats.
Throughout his career, Lenzendorf has been deployed multiple times to Iraq and Saudi Arabia, where he has flown combat missions in support of Operation Southern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Lenzendorf will retire in 2016.
Lenzendorf attended the game with his wife, Leah, and his two sons, Jared and Garett.
Operation Fan Mail, which debuted in 2007, is designed to recognize families with a member who is on active duty. The Packers and WPS Health Insurance will host a family at each 2013 home game and recognize them on the field during pregame activities. A total of 61 families have been recognized with through the program.
To choose families, the Packers and WPS Health Insurance are asking interested families, or friends of eligible families, to submit an essay, 500 words or less, on why a particular fan should be saluted. Essays can be sent to: Operation Fan Mail, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI, 54307-0628. Essays also can be submitted to the Packers online at packers.com/gameday/gamedaypromotions/operationfan_mail.
Families intended for recognition are those that have a member serving on active duty. The family member can be a spouse, mother, father, son, daughter or sibling.
In addition to being recognized on-field prior to the game, selected families receive four tickets to the game and a care package from WPS.
