To honor the men and women who have proudly served our nation, the Chicago Zoological Society invites the public to a special Veterans Day ceremony at Brookfield Zoo on Saturday, November 11, 2017.
On Veterans Day, admission to the zoo is free for all guests (parking fees still apply.)
From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., guests can view an array of military memorabilia, including uniforms and documents, from the Revolutionary War to the present. Additionally, a military vehicle will be on display on the Discovery Center Plaza.
Greeting guests from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m. will be one of the zoo’s birds of prey, accompanied by animal care staff. From noon to 12:45 p.m., zoogoers can enjoy the entertaining sounds of the Legacy Girls as they sing toe-tapping hits of the famous Andrew Sisters.
The ceremony begins at 12:45 p.m. in the zoo’s Discovery Center with the posting of colors performed by members of Joliet Township High School’s ROTC, followed by singing of the National Anthem. In addition, the event will be attended by a number of veterans, retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Steve Coccoran, members of Wounded Warriors, and the Riverside-Brookfield High School Marching Band. After the ceremony, guests are invited to stay for an entertaining routine by the popular Jesse White Tumblers.
Karen Yarbrough and her staff from the Cook County Recorder of Deeds also will be at the zoo to enroll thoseinterested in the Cook County Military and Veterans Discount Program (military identification required). The program, which is jointly administered by the Cook County Recorder of Deeds and the County Department of Veterans Affairs, features a network of businesses and merchants that offer money-saving discounts and incentives to Cook County veterans and active-duty military as a way of showing gratitude for their service. Those unable to attend Brookfield Zoo on Veterans Day can still sign up for the discount program by visiting the Cook County Recorder of Deeds office at 118 N. Clark, Room 120, in Chicago. For more information about the program, visit cookrecorder.com/militarydiscount.
The Chicago Zoological Society is proud to offer free general admission to Brookfield Zoo year-round to active, reserve, and retired members of the Armed Forces when a valid military ID is presented.
