The Green Bay Packers and Arise Health Plan paid special tribute to Master Sgt. Will Frederick and his family during Sunday's Packers-Chargers game for 'Operation Fan Mail.'
Frederick, originally from Beaver Dam, Wis., has served in the U.S. Air Force for 23 years. He entered service in 1992 after the Gulf War, and has been stationed at multiple bases as a fuels management technician. Throughout his career, he has deployed in support of multiple contingency and humanitarian operations to Japan, Korea, Guam, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Currently, Frederick is the fuels management superintendent, non-commissioned officer in charge, at the 934th Airlift Wing in Minneapolis. He has received several awards during his time in the service, including contingency medals for the Global War on Terrorism and outstanding community service medals, and was named 2012 Air Force Reserve and Air Reserve Component "Fuels Management Technician of the Year."
Frederick and his wife, Michelle, now live in Amery, Wis., and have four children, Ashley, Austin, Lauryn and Lane. They attended the game Sunday with their two sons, Austin and Lane. Their oldest son, Austin, has enlisted in the U.S. Army and will leave for basic training in June of 2016.
Operation Fan Mail, which debuted in 2007, is designed to recognize families with a member who is on active duty. The Packers and Arise Health Plan will host a family at each 2015 home game and recognize them on the field during pregame activities. A total of 81 individuals or families have been recognized through the program thus far.
To choose families, the Packers and Arise Health Plan 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 packers.com/gameday/gamedaypromotions/operationfanmail.
In addition to being recognized on-field prior to the game, selected families receive four tickets to the game and a care package from Arise Health Plan. Families intended for recognition are those that have a member serving on active duty. The family member can be a spouse, mother, father, son, daughter or sibling.
