Brookfield Zoo to Host Veterans Day Ceremony

Submitted by the Chicago Zoological Society.

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 in Brookfield Zoo’s Discovery Center on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

On Veterans Day, admission to the zoo is free for all guests (parking fees still apply.)

From 11 a.m. to 2 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 1:00 p.m., zoogoers can enjoy a performance by the Legacy Girls as they sing toe-tapping hits of the famous Andrew Sisters.

The 1:00 p.m. Veterans Day ceremony will feature the posting of colors and a performance of the National Anthem, followed by remarks from Stuart D. Strahl, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Society. After the ceremony, guests are invited to stay for an entertaining routine by the popular Jess White Tumblers.

In addition, Karen Yarbrough and her staff from the Cook County Recorder of Deeds will be at the zoo to enroll those interested 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.

Staff members of the Society’s Arcoiris group, whose mission is to achieve organizational excellence through diversity, host this event.