Brookfield Zoo Hosts Veterans Day Ceremony

BROOKFIELD, IL — The Chicago Zoological Society invites the public to a special Veterans Day ceremony at Brookfield Zoo on Saturday, Nov. 11. On Veterans Day, admission to the zoo is free for all guests, although parking fees still apply.

The zoo said 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.

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, according to the zoo. 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.

The zoo said Karen Yarbrough and her staff from the Cook County Recorder of Deeds also 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.

The Chicago Zoological Society offers 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.

Image via Shutterstock.