Members of National Guard To Unfurl Flag During Pregame; New Members of National Guard To Take Oath At Halftime
Army Specialist Erwin Rodriguez and his family will be recognized by the Green Bay Packers and WPS Health Insurance at tonight's game vs. the Chicago Bears for 'Operation Fan Mail.'
Rodriguez, who was born in New York City and raised in Milwaukee, began his military career eight years ago and has earned multiple medals and honors, including two oversees ribbons, an Iraq Campaign Medal, and Global War on Terrorism and Expeditionary Medals. Recently he earned a gold medal in a shooting range competition in Germany, earning a German award, a Schützenschnur, for weapons proficiency.
He will be joined at the game by his wife, Veronica, and their two children.
Now in its third season at Lambeau Field, Operation Fan Mail this year is a partnership between the Packers and WPS Health Insurance. Designed to recognize families with a member who is on active duty, the Packers and WPS Health Insurance will host a family at each 2009 home game and introduce them on the field during pregame activities.
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 family 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 online via Packers.com at www.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.
Also tonight at Lambeau Field, members of the Wisconsin National Guard will be unfurling the American flag during the national anthem, which will be followed by a flyover of Blackhawk helicopters.
Halftime will feature about 30 new members of the Wisconsin Army National Guard taking their oath on Lambeau Field.
