The Green Bay Packers and Network Health paid special tribute to U.S. Navy veteran Todd Hope and his son, U.S. Army veteran Sam Hope, during Saturday afternoon's game against the Seattle Seahawks for 'Operation Fan Mail.'
This year marks the 19th season of Operation Fan Mail, the program that recognizes military families and veterans at each Packers home game.
Todd served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years as a diesel mechanic, dedicating his career to keeping the fleet mission-ready. He deployed off the coast of Iraq and to Pakistan during Operation Desert Storm and attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer (E-7). Inspired by his father, Sam enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2011 as an infantryman (E-4). During his four and a half years of service, he was stationed overseas in Korea, Japan and Thailand, as well as stateside at Fort Benning and Fort Carson. Shortly after reenlisting for five additional years, he was medically discharged following an injury.
Green Bay natives, the Hopes are lifelong Packers fans. Sam fondly remembers watching the team on his family's TV every Sunday growing up. Through years of military service and distance, the Packers kept the Hope family connected, uniting them through both good times and challenges. Todd and Sam attended the game with their wives, Jessica and Alyssa. Sam nominated his father for recognition.
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 hosted a family at each 2025 home game and recognized them on the field during pregame activities. A total of 218 families have been saluted during the past 18 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 next 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.
