Recently, we received an email from a distressed patron, who’s sister-in-law had lost a fleece jacket at the park on her way out from the July 11, 2009 Tom Jones concert. Under the usual circumstances, if the item is not in our lost and found, there is nothing we can do, but this fleece jacket isn’t just any fleece jacket; it contains her son's dog tags, whom she lost in Iraq in 2007.

We had a group at Ravinia for Tom Jones on Saturday 07/11/2009, unfortunately my sister-in-law placed her DARK GREEN FLEECE JACKET over the coolers on wheels. When we got home we realized it was missing.

My brother and sister lost their youngest son in Iraq in 2007 and my sister in law wore his dog tags everyday. On such day she took them off and placed in the pocket of this jacket, she had been dancing and they kept jumping and swinging around so she thought she would take them off (Bad idea),they called and drove up Sunday morning with no avail, I thought I would write and ask for help myself since they had no luck.

We had the jacket leaving, because we all remember it being tied to our cart. It was right when we exited the park that it must have fallen off and we did not notice. I remember my brother walked through the doorway entry on the right side [of the main gate]. The train had just arrived so there were police and staff all over as we crossed over the tracks. We parked in the lot directly across the tracks on the left hand side (facing the parking lot).

Do you have a lost and found or any way of reaching out to people who were there and would happen to have seen it or picked it up. It truly is very unfortunate, and my sister in law is beside her self for doing what she did. If there is someone out there with a big heart maybe this will end on a good note.

-Distraught in Chicago

Lost: DARK GREEN FLEECE JACKET 2 ZIPPER SIDE POCKETS w/Dog Tags
LOGO: LION/DALEY ACADEMY
Last Seen: After the Tom Jones Concert on July 11, 2009 in the area of Ravinia Festival’s West Gate/Box Office and the Train Crossing into the Ravinia Festival West Parking Lot.
2 DOG TAGS ON A LONG CHAIN: OMAR E TORRES
Name on dog tags: PFC OMAR E. TORRES ARMY D/O/D 08/22/2007

To no avail festival staff scoured the lost and found and park facilities. To date there have been no patrons that have turned anything in matching the description, but we do not want this story to end on a somber note, which is why we are reaching out to you, our blog readers, to spread the word about this lost fleece jacket and missing dog tags. If found or accidentally picked up, the item can be turned in at the Ravinia Box Office during Mon-Sat 10am - intermission and Sunday 1pm - intermission. Ravinia Festival respects the anonymity of any person who may find the fleece jacket. If you have any other information regarding this item, please contact backstage@ravinia.org or call (847) 266-5111.

Matthew Dolkart
Development Writer