News Release

November 3, 2009

Contact:

  Sondra Katzen
  Public Relations
  708.688.8351
  sondra.katzen@czs.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Note: Images of the Veterans Day ceremony at Brookfield Zoo may be downloaded at http://www.czs.org/pressroom

Honor Veterans at Special Ceremony at Brookfield Zoo

FREE Admission to Those Who Donate an Item to Operation Stars and Stripes

             Brookfield, IL—To honor the men and women who have proudly served our nation, the Chicago Zoological Society (CZS) invites the public to a special Veterans Day ceremony at Brookfield Zoo on Wednesday, November 11, at 1:00 p.m.

Zoogoers who bring an item to donate to Operation Stars and Stripes will receive FREE general admission to the zoo on November 11 (parking fees still apply). Founded in 2003, Operation Stars & Stripes is a nonprofit organization that generously sends care packages to American military overseas. The organization received “The Heroes Home Front Award” from Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn (now Governor Quinn) of Illinois in May 2005. For further information about the organization, including a complete listing of items that can be donated, visit www.operationstars.com.

The ceremony, which will take place just south of the zoo’s Roosevelt Fountain, begins with welcoming comments from Dr. Stuart Strahl, president and CEO of CZS, followed by a special presentation of the Honor Guard from the VFW Post 2580 in Midlothian. Two veterans, now working at Brookfield Zoo—Glenn Granat, who was a paratrooper in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, and Chris Blackburn, who served in the U.S. Army’s 9th Infantry Division—will be placing a memorial wreath at the fountain. Guests can take part in an on‑the-ground parachute demonstration with guest speaker Mark Christianson, Chicago Chapter chairman from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. In addition, Leah, the zoo’s bald eagle, and Dakota, a red-tailed hawk, will make appearances with their zookeepers for a special Zoo Chat. Other special Zoo Chats will take place throughout the day.

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.

Celebrating its 75th year, the Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo, inspires conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. Open every day of the year, Brookfield Zoo is located off First Avenue between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and is also accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, CTA, and PACE bus service. For more information, go to www.CZS.org.

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