GREEN BAY, Wis. -- It's shaping up to be a special Thanksgiving night and a monumental event in Green Bay Packers history.
Brett Favre will be honored at halftime of Green Bay's game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday. Favre's retired No. 4 will be unveiled on the Lambeau Field façade, and Bart Starr will be there to see it.
Starr's health has improved since he suffered a heart attack and multiple strokes more than a year ago. Stem cell treatments have aided in his recovery to the point that he will be able to travel to Green Bay from his home in Birmingham, Alabama. Cherry Starr, Bart's wife, confirmed that the pair will fly from Alabama to Wisconsin on Wednesday.
She said her husband does not remember his iconic career as quarterback of the Packers.
"I hope when Bart walks on the field that it will bring back a lot of really nice thoughts and experiences," Cherry told ESPN.com Monday night. "I just think it will be really stimulating to him to see all the lights and all the people and to hear the cheering. I hope it brings back memories for Bart, even if it's just for that moment. It's been a long road to get to this point, and we're all very excited about it."
The Packers have not shared their exact plans for Starr's appearance, but from the moment the team announced plans to retire Favre's number, Favre said he wanted Starr to attend the ceremony.
"This is obviously a very special, special time in the Green Bay Packers' history, with Bart coming back, the excitement leading up to it," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Monday. "Obviously, Brett Favre's retirement of his jersey number, the fact that you'll have Bart Starr, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers together for a moment, I think, will obviously be special and unique."
Information from ESPN.com's Ian O'Connor contributed to this report.
