The Green Bay Packers and Network Health paid special tribute to U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Nicholas Bartlett during Saturday's game against the Seahawks 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.
Bartlett served in the Marines for four years and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif., as an Electro Optical Ordnance Repairer with 2nd Battalion 1st Marines. He was deployed twice overseas, first in 2019 to Japan, South Korea and Australia and second in 2021 to the Middle East, where he spent about four months in Iraq. During his time in the military, he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal and Operation Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal. During his time in the U.S. Marine Corps, Bartlett achieved the rank of Sergeant.
Born and raised in Madison, Wis., Bartlett has been a Packers fan for as long as he can remember. He watches the games each week and was able to attend his first game ever last season. Bartlett, who now lives in Milwaukee, married his wife, Sydney, in June of this year. She nominated him to be recognized at this week's game.
Bartlett attended Saturday's game with Sydney and their friends Megan Kiley and Brandt Komas.
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 178 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.
