The Green Bay Packers and Network Health paid special tribute to U.S. Army veteran Scott Kjendlie during Sunday afternoon's game against the Los Angeles Rams for 'Operation Fan Mail.'
Operation Fan Mail, the program that recognizes military families and veterans at each Packers home game, is marking its 17th season this year.
Kjendlie is from Janesville, Wis., and served in the U.S. Army for 25 years, retiring in 2023. Fresh out of high school, he enlisted due to his passion for serving his country and desire to make a difference in the world. He became an Armament Systems Maintenance Warrant Officer, and served in multiple locations for training, humanitarian and combat deployments. These include multiple installations across the United States, Korea and Haiti, and four combat deployments to Afghanistan.
Growing up in Wisconsin, Kjendlie has been a lifelong Packers fan and passed that down to his three children, Haileigh, Aaron and Carson. No matter where his deployments were, he always found a way to watch the team. He watched much of the 2010 season in Afghanistan at 4 a.m., always making sure to support the team no matter his location.
Kjendlie is a newly retired Army CW4. He received several awards and commendations, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, five Meritorious Service Medals and more. He also completed many rounds of rigorous training, including Airborne school, Air Assault school and U.S. Army Warrant Officer courses.
Kjendlie attended Sunday's game with his wife, Janetta, and his two sons, Carson and Aaron.
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 2023 home game and recognize them on the field during pregame activities. A total of 182 families have been saluted during the past 15 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.
