The annual Operation Support Our Troops concert is moving from its usual location at Wheaton’s Cantigny Park to Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva.
Officials from Operation Support Our Troops America say they are excited about the change, which was forced due to renovations that will ongoing at the Wheaton site for the next few years. Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva is where the minor league Kane County Cougars play baseball.
“The Cougars have been great partners over the years, and they were willing to work with us as the team will be out on the road for about 10 days during this time,” said Justin Smitherman, chairman of the board, about the July 22 concert. “They’ve worked with us throughout this process and it’s been a tremendous experience. We tend to travel well, and this venue holds 10,000 people which is always what we plan for.”
Operation Support Our Troops America Executive Director Jamie Nelson said this will be the 11th year of offering the “Rocking the Troops” concert, which to date has raised about $3 million.
“We generally average about $200,000 to $250,000 a year and we supply food baskets and have some new programs coming out which include offering financial assistance,” Nelson said. “We had a long partnership with Cantigny, but we feel this also gives us a chance to attract a new audience this year along with the people that always have supported us.”
In addition to sending almost two million pounds of items to deployed troops since its inception, Operation Support Our Troops also provides a three-day grief seminar, a yoga program, and job support for veterans.
The concert this year will be headlined by Lynyrd Skynyrd, which replaces usual headliner Gary Sinise and the Lieutenant Dan Band.
“Gary has been and continues to be a big supporter of ours, and when we announced the venue change and date of the concert, he had a family commitment,” Nelson said. “We wanted someone with great appeal for the audience and Lynyrd Skynyrd has been supportive of the military and is very popular.”
Gates will open at 2 p.m. July 22. Four acts will perform including The Empty Pockets from Skokie, which will appear first in the small music garden inside the stadium.
Other acts include The Voices, a local group that performs Motown music from the 1960s, as well as country singer Ayla Brown. Lynyrd Skynyrd is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m.
Cost of admission ranges from lawn seats at $25 up to $50 for those sitting in reserved seats.
Northwestern Medicine Field is at 34W002 Cherry Lane in Geneva.
For more information and to buy tickets, go to www.osotAmerica.org.
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News
