The Green Bay Packers and Network Health paid special tribute to U.S. Army veteran AJ McKinney during Sunday afternoon's game against the Indianapolis Colts for 'Operation Fan Mail.'
This year marks the 18th season of Operation Fan Mail, the program that recognizes military families and veterans at each Packers home game.
Staff Sergeant AJ McKinney served in the United States Army for over 11 years, completing two combat deployments to Iraq with the 2nd Infantry Division. He earned several awards and decorations throughout the course of his career as an infantryman, including the Army's Commendation Medal with valor and the prestigious Combat Infantryman Badge. Upon sustaining numerous combat-related injuries, Staff Sergeant McKinney medically retired from the military in 2018, challenging him to find new ways to fulfill his passion for mentorship.
Staff Sergeant McKinney is now an assistant football coach at Lakeside Lutheran High School in Lake Mills, Wis. As a soldier coach with Soldiers to Sidelines, he empowers fellow military members to get involved in coaching a sport they are passionate about. McKinney also volunteers as an alumni peer leader with the Wounded Warrior Project, planning and running events for WWP alumni and their families in Wisconsin.
A lifelong Packers fan, Staff Sergeant McKinney continued to support the green and gold from across the world, watching every game while he was overseas for deployment and training. The Rockton, Ill., native now resides in Edgerton, Wis., with his wife, Danielle, and their two children, Karson and Riglei, all of whom accompanied him to the game.
Operation Fan Mail, which debuted in 2007, is designed to honor those who are on active duty or are veterans of the military, along with their families. In addition to being recognized on the video boards prior to the game, selected families will receive four tickets to the game, courtesy of Network Health. The Packers and Network Health will host a family at each 2024 home game and recognize them on the field during pregame activities. A total of 208 families have been saluted during the past 17 seasons.
To choose families, the Packers and Network Health 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 this 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. Families intended for recognition are those that have a member of their family serving on active duty, or a member of their family who is a veteran. The family member can be a spouse, mother, father, son, daughter or sibling.
