The Green Bay Packers and WPS Health Solutions paid special tribute to Wisconsin Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 Trevor Klock during Saturday's game against the San Francisco 49ers for 'Operation Fan Mail.'
Operation Fan Mail, the program that recognizes military families and veterans at each Packers home game, is marking its 15th season this year. Â
Klock, originally from Sun Prairie, Wis., began his military service as a cargo specialist in the U.S. Army Reserve from 2004-07, where he was stationed in Ft. Sheridan, Ill. Wanting to deploy, he transitioned to active-duty status and reclassed as an infantryman. He served three years on active duty, spending one year deployed to Afghanistan as a scout sniper team leader.
He completed his Army service in 2010, but found that he missed the military and wanted to continue serving. In 2014, he joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard, eventually moving with his family to Alabama so he could attend flight school. They returned to Wisconsin in 2017, where Klock now pilots a Black Hawk helicopter in an aviation unit based in Madison.
In addition to his military service, Klock works as an airport crash rescue firefighter at the Dane County Regional Airport.Â
In her nomination essay, Klock's wife, Stephanie, praised his commitment to his family while balancing his career as a pilot and firefighter. They live in DeForest, Wis., with their son, Mason, and daughter, Penny. A lifelong Packers fan, Klock attended Saturday's game with Stephanie and his brother, Justin, and Justin's wife, Laura. Â
Operation Fan Mail, which debuted in 2007, is designed to honor families with a member who is on active duty, or a member who is a veteran. The family member can be a spouse, mother, father, son, daughter or sibling. The Packers and WPS Health Solutions will host a family or group at each 2021 home game and recognize them on the video board during pregame activities. A total of 147 individuals, families or groups have been recognized through the program thus far.Â
To choose families, the Packers and WPS Health Solutions 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 next season. Essays can be sent to Operation Fan Mail, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI, 54307-0628 or online at packers.com/lambeau-field/operation-fan-mail.
In addition to being recognized on-field prior to the game, selected families will receive four tickets to the game and a $150 Packers Pro Shop gift card courtesy of WPS Health Solutions.
