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The Navy in Chicago: An Unlikely Story
February 16 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Despite being 800 miles from the Atlantic Ocean Chicago has been a Navy town for more than 130 years. The modern history of the Navy has been influenced by Chicago and Chicagoans to an extent most people are unaware. The Chicago Navy Memorial Foundation is committed to educating the public about the importance of maintaining a strong Navy for the security and prosperity of the nation and telling the story of Chicago’s outsized impact on today’s—and tomorrow’s—Navy.
Jeff Gray is the director of public affairs for the Union League Club of Chicago and a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and is the its senior project director of the Chicago Navy Memorial Foundation and a member of the Illinois Secretary of State’s Veteran’s Advisory Council.
Gray’s background includes over 25 years of experience as a public affairs officer in the Navy Reserve where he currently holds the rank of Commander. He has deployed as a public affairs officer to Afghanistan as a member of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, in Kabul.
Working for Chicago Public Schools, he was a special projects manager and the director of admissions for Chicago’s eight Selective Enrollment High Schools and six Military Academies.
In conjunction with the Bridgeport Art Center’s Third Friday Open House, the Chicago Maritime Museum opens its doors for lively presentations on maritime history and current events each month. Come early and explore the Bridgeport Art Center’s many art galleries. Join us on Friday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m. either in person or virtually.
The presentation is $5.00 for members and $10.00 for non-members. However, you might just consider joining the CMM for an annual membership of just $35, which provides unlimited visits, access to our monthly newsletter and special events such as the Third Friday maritime lecture series. Join us at chicagomaritimemuseum.org or call us (773) 376-1982. We are located on the lower level of the Bridgeport Art Center at 1200 W 35th Street. Parking is free in the north lot.