The Green Bay Packers and WPS Health Insurance paid special tribute to Staff Sergeant Daniel Knudsen during Sunday's Packers-Rams game for 'Operation Fan Mail.'
Knudsen, from Menasha, Wis., serves the U.S. Army as a Senior Medical Sergeant on an Operational Detachment Alpha in the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He has completed two tours to Iraq, serving as an Automatic Rifleman and later a Squad Leader in the 3rd Infantry Divison.
During Knudsen's first deployment, he was wounded and in turn received the Purple Heart. Soon after, Knudsen was selected for training in the U.S. Army Special Forces and graduated with honors, becoming a medic in the Special Forces.
"I can think of no better way to honor Dan's dedication to his country than at a Packer game with his wife, his dad and his sister at his side," said Knudsen's mother-in-law Karen Hurst in nominating him. "They are his three greatest supporters; to have them recognized at Lambeau Field would be the greatest honor Dan could receive."
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 2011 home game and recognize them on the field during pregame activities. More than 38 families have been recognized during the past four-plus seasons.
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 http://nfl.packers.com/gameday/gamedaypromotions/operationfanmail.
Families intended for recognition are those that have a member serving on active duty. The family member can be a mother, father, son, daughter or sibling.
In addition to being recognized on-field prior to the game, selected families will receive four tickets to the game and a care package from WPS.
