Contact: Jennifer Komorowski National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum 1801 S. Indiana Ave. Chicago IL 60616 info@nvvam.org 312.326.0270 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2007 COME MEET VIETNAM WAR VET AND LEGENDARY CHICAGO COP MIKE CRONIN AND FORMER CHICAGO TRIBUNE COLUMNIST AND AUTHOR ANNE KEEGAN FOR A BOOK SIGNING OF ON THE STREET DOING LIFE When: 1:30 P.M. on Saturday, May 19th Where: National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum 1801 S. Indiana Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616; (312) 326-0270 Cronin had been out on 110 combat missions when one hot December morning in 1968 he stepped on a land mine and, in one horrendous blast, lost his left foot, his eyesight and his dream of ever becoming a Chicago police officer. The story of how he recovered and went on to become head of the Chicago police department’s two most elite units—Gangs and Narcotics—is inspirational. Chicago’s three top law enforcement officers said this about this book: "’On the Street Doing Life,’ captures the gritty reality that cops face working dope on the west side of Chicago. No cop did it better than Mike Cronin and I'm proud to say I had the opportunity to work with him." Philip Cline, Superintendent Chicago Police Department “Mike Cronin … He got injured in Vietnam in the ‘60s. Came back. He couldn’t get on the Police Department. He only had one leg. And my dad put him on… Was my dad right? Yeah, my dad was right. This guy is the best policeman.” Richard M. Daley, Mayor, City of Chicago "In 'On the Streets Doing Life,' Anne Keegan gives readers a rare and fascinating tour of how life plays out on the West Side through the eyes of Mike Cronin, a legendary Chicago cop who knows those streets better than anyone. Keegan pulls no punches, but neither did Mike Cronin.” Dick Devine, State’s Attorney County of Cook Come Meet Mike and Anne and buy this raw, moving, funny and sad book which presents an intimate look at the life of a gang crimes cop, and the world he moved through on Chicago’s West Side. The book costs $15. It’s a great read about an exceptional vet and cop and the humanity he brought to and found, both in Vietnam and on some of Chicago’s most troubled streets. In 1981, a few Vietnam combat veterans created an artistic and historical collection that would become a timeless, humanistic statement of war on behalf of all veterans for future generations. The exhibit toured the United States and later found a permanent home with the help of Mayor Richard Daley, at 1801 S. Indiana. Today, the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum (NVVAM) is still located in Chicago’s South Loop and houses over 500 works of art. The artwork presented at the Museum provides a unique viewpoint on war for all visitors. The collection is born from the sheer sentiment of those who personally experienced the immediate suffering and realities of war. It’s clear the artists have experienced the creative and spontaneous insight, and intuition, that comes from witnessing the magnitude of human combat first-hand. Visit www.nvvam.org for more information.