Veterans And Gold Star Families Granted Lifetime Passes To National Parks

As the pandemic continues to rear its head, outdoor activity continues to be the only refuge for activity that we have.

On Veterans Day, national parks and forests are free to explore, so take advantage of the weather wherever you are, and see the beautiful parts of the country we live in.

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To commemorate Veterans Day and honor those who have served in the military, National Park Service entrance fees will be waived for ALL visitors on November 11. Beginning on Veterans Day, Gold Star Families and U.S. military veterans will be granted free access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas into perpetuity. These areas include our magnificent national parks, wildlife refuges, forests and other lands and waters managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.⁣ ⁣ Image: Frank Gaylord, sculptor of 19 larger-than-life size steel warriors in the "Field of Service" at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, was able to draw on his experience as a veteran of World War II to deliver this powerful virtual platoon in Washington D.C.⁣ ⁣ #FindYourPark #veterans #washingtondc #nationalparkservice

A post shared by National Park Service (@nationalparkservice) on Nov 10, 2020 at 9:45am PST

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that US Military Veterans and Gold Star Families will be granted a lifetime of free access to national parks, wildlife refuges, and other Department of the Interior managed federal lands.

"With the utmost respect and gratitude, we are granting Veterans and Gold Star Families free access to the iconic and treasured lands they fought to protect starting this Veterans Day and every single day thereafter," said Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt.

The pass currently costs $80, and is called America the Beautiful. It allows entry and amenity use of 2,000 federal recreation sites, and 400 million acres of public land.

To get the free pass, veterans must provide proof of service.

Read more at NPR