The National Park Service has an unusual Veterans’ Day gift to veterans and Gold Star families: free access to National Parks and all other open public lands administered by the Department of the Interior, starting this November 11th.
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said in a statement “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.”
Details on how the program will be administered were not announced, but it might involve issuing a pass similar to the one senior citizens can buy, offering lifetime access.
The Park Service also announced a free-pass program for fifth-graders, with eligibility lasting through August 2021, with passes available to print from the Park Service website. It’s actually a revival of this year’s program to give passes to fourth-graders and their parents; few were able to take advantage because of Covid shutdowns. Now, as fifth-graders, they are getting a second shot.
