The ceremony will once again take place just inside Gate 0 of Soldier Field in front of the Doughboy statue. Along the wall are benches to provide seating and moments of reflection. The benches contain notable quotations regarding the efforts of those who serve our country. Actual Military Medals of Honor representing the various branches of the armed forces are cast into the backrests.
Soldier Field was named as such at the request of Gold Star Mothers to honor those men lost in World War I. The Doughboy statue, originally placed in Garfield Park, was restored and installed in Soldier Field as part of the stadium renovation. Doughboy is an informal term for a member of the United States Army or Marine Corps, especially members of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I.
Veterans Day is the one day set aside to thank and honor living veterans who have served honorably in the military in wartime and peacetime. Originally known as Armistice Day and so declared by President Woodrow Wilson, it was created to mark the signing of the Armistice which ended World War I. Following World War II, it was declared a day to honor all veterans and in 1954, renamed Veterans Day by Congress.
Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Time: 10 am
Location: Soldier Field, Gate 0, 1410 Museum Campus Drive Chicago, IL 60605
Admission: FREE
Accessibility: Fully accessible.
Parking; FREE parking is available at the Waldron Parking Deck; exit at 18th Street from Lake Shore Drive.
PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMEMORATION
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2017
SOLDIER FIELD 1410 SOUTH MUSEUM CAMPUS DRIVE, GATE O CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60605
Coffee and Pastries 9:30 am to 10:00 am
Ceremony 10:00 am to 11:00 am
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND FREE PARKING FOR EVENT
MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Alderman James Balcer (Retired), 11th Ward
GUEST SPEAKERS: The Honorable Edward Burke, 14th Ward Alderman and Chairman of City Council’s Committee on Finance Army Major General James Mukoyama (Retired), former Commander 70th Training Division
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Navy Admiral Cecil Haney (Retired), former Pacific Fleet Commander and U.S. Strategic Command Commander
MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT: United States Navy Band, Great Lakes Aleece Baker, USO of Illinois Tom Day, Bugles Across America
COLOR GUARD AND RIFLE TEAM: Navy Junior ROTC Cadets, Hyman G. Rickover Naval Academy 2nd, 24th Marines
RSVP: Friday, December 1, 2017 jgray@chicagonavymemorial.org For questions, please contact Jeffrey S. Gray at (773) 679-7835