Posted on 11/10/2020 8:32:11 AM PST by PROCON
As coronavirus cases again surge across the country, the outdoors remains a rare and safe refuge for Americans, particularly for those struggling with anxiety or depression due to the pandemic.
On Wednesday, those hoping to reap the benefits of fresh air and the unseasonably warm weather in much of the country can explore national parks and forests for free in honor of Veterans Day.
And, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced U.S. military veterans and Gold Star families will be granted a lifetime of free access to national parks, wildlife refuges and other federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior.
"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 access passes, called America the Beautiful, currently cost $80 per year and grant entry to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, including Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Arches, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
(Excerpt) Read more at npr.org ...
My wife and I got lifetime passes too, a couple of years ago. It cost practically nothing.
Nice gesture to the vets, but not really much.
As I read it, no pass. Free Access.
————————va.gov-————
Details on program
For purposes of this program, a Veteran is identified as an individual who has served in the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, and is able to present one of the following forms of identification:
Department of Defense Identification Card
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
Veteran ID Card
Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S. driver’s license or identification card
Free hunting permits would be nice!
Aren’t those for seniors? I’ve got one too.
I just sent the free park admission info to my husband and daughter.
I wonder if this pass gets you 50% off campground. I know the senior citizen does. The regular 80 dollar pass does not include the camping discount.
IMO, every little thing counts. I am all for it.
I admit, though, even as a veteran who did not serve in a hot war or combat theater, I get a little squeamish about going for some of the benefits that have been made available to the wider population of all veterans, because I feel that a dollar of benefit I take is a dollar that could be applied to some other veteran program, but...it is just me.
I have no problem with others going for it, and that said, I will avail myself of this one, but there are a few things over the years along these lines that I didn’t want to pursue.
free hunting permits for out of state vets would be astounding.....husband has hunted out of state...alaska, oregone, Idaho....but its prohibitive in cost..
Hopefully many will take advantage of the pass. My daughter visited 9 this summer by Van/camper and had a wonderful time and met awesome people.
Need ID for this, but not to vote.
Go figure.
Have to look into this..
....only until January 21, 2021, if the Manchurian prevails.
IMO you should not feel squeamish about this one. Unless the park is overbooked and you are preventing another vet from getting in, you are not (IMO) “taking anything away” from another vet.
Again IMO, the revenue from the parks has been yet another way that the deep state has fleeced us to line their pockets.
(I’m a veteran, if that makes any difference.)
I know...like I said, I will take advantage of this one.
And...thanks for your service!
“To get the free pass, veterans must provide some form of identification showing they were enlisted in the armed forces or the U.S.National Guard and Reserves. Gold Star families are those who have lost an enlisted family member while serving in a war, a military operation outside of the U.S. or in an international terrorist attack.”
Is this just typically bone-headed writing, or are they making a distinction between enlisted and commissioned vets?
I know what you mean. I wish I could get into one of those hunting deals, but I’m not going to get in line in front of a double amputee.
I DID take full advantage of the GI Bill...:)
“I DID take full advantage of the GI Bill...:)”
Good. Nothing wrong with that. The GI Bill was not a zero-sum game.
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