News Release
 
Contact: Sondra Katzen, Public Relations, 708.688.8351, sondra.katzen@czs.org
 
September 16, 2021
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
   

Brookfield, Ill. — Today, Chicago Zoological Society staff was proud to welcome and host the Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) Soldier Ride^® to Brookfield Zoo. This year approximately 30 wounded veterans, were welcomed as they rode under an American flag draped across two ladder trucks from Riverside and Brookfield fire departments prior to entering the zoo’s south gate.

As the veterans rode through the park on a route from the south gate to the Pavilions, zoo staff and guests lined the walkways welcoming the bikers.

After riding their bikes through the park, the warriors were served lunch followed by a narrated tour of the park aboard Motor Safari trams. In addition, several of the zoo’s animal ambassadors made appearances to greet the veterans.

The 16.2-mile ride to Brookfield Zoo was the first of a three-day, more than 60-mile cycling event throughout the Chicagoland area. Soldier Ride is a multi-day bicycling event, where injured veterans are challenged to push themselves physically and mentally as they manage visible and invisible wounds of war. Soldier Ride visits dozens of American cities to connect warriors to each other and their local communities.

 
About the Chicago Zoological Society
The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by engaging people and communities with wildlife and nature. The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Society is known throughout the world for its international role in animal population management and wildlife conservation. Its Center for the Science of Animal Care and Welfare is at the forefront of animal care that strives to discover and implement innovative approaches to zoo animal management. Brookfield Zoo is the first zoo in the world to be awarded the Humane Certified™ certification mark for the care and welfare of its animals, meeting American Humane Association’s rigorous certification standards. The zoo is located at 8400 31st Street in Brookfield, Illinois, between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and also is accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, and CTA and PACE bus service. For further information, visit CZS.org.
 
Soldier Ride History 
Soldier Ride^® began in 2004 when civilian Chris Carney cycled more than 5,000 miles coast-to-coast to support WWP and help raise awareness for injured veterans. The following year, several combat warriors who returned from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) with visible and invisible injuries joined Carney for another cross-country ride. The trek across the nation proved to be a milestone on the journey to recovery as wounded warriors redefined their personal strengths and limitations. Despite facing many obstacles, the warriors refused to give up. They used the experience as a catalyst to show the public and themselves that with support and motivation, anything was possible.
 
Today, Soldier Ride continues to inspire warriors to heal their bodies and minds. Soldier Ride has become a gathering that connects American heroes to each other and their communities and provides the American public an opportunity to honor that service and sacrifice. Read more.