Veterans of the U.S. Armed Services and Gold Star Families come Friday, Veterans Day, will be able to obtain a free lifetime pass to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites spread out across more than 400 million acres of public lands, including national parks, wildlife refuges, and forests.
“We have a sacred obligation to America’s veterans. This new lifetime pass is a small demonstration of our nation’s gratitude and support for those who have selflessly served in the U.S. Armed Forces,” said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, whose father served during the Vietnam War. “I’m proud the Department of the Interior can provide veterans and Gold Star Families opportunities for recreation, education and enjoyment from our country’s treasured lands.”
“This is a small token of appreciation for veterans who have bravely dedicated their lives to defending our freedom. This pass conveys our immense gratitude and respect for those who have given so much,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “As a veteran, I know firsthand the many sacrifices that members of the Armed Forces and their families have made in service to our country, and I am thrilled that Gold Star Families and military veterans can now enjoy lifetime access to national parks and other public lands.”
Each lifetime pass covers entrance fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle (or passholder and up to three adults at sites that charge per person) at national parks and national wildlife refuges, as well as standard amenity fees at national forests and grasslands, and at lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Veterans can present one of the four forms of acceptable ID (Department of Defense ID Card, Veteran Health ID (VHIC), Veteran ID Card, or veteran’s designation on a state-issued US driver’s license or ID card) at participating federal recreation areas that normally charge an entrance fee. Gold Star Families obtain information, self-certify they qualify and download a voucher on NPS.gov.
The Alexander Lofgran Veterans in Parks Act, passed in December 2021, authorized free lifetime access to federal lands to veterans and Gold Star Families. The new lifetime pass for veterans and Gold Star Families is in addition to the free annual Military Pass, which has been available to active duty servicemembers and their families since Armed Forces Day, May 19, 2012.
Federal recreational land management agencies offer additional lifetime passes, including a Senior Pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents over age 62 and an Access Pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a permanent disability.
The Interior Department and other federal land agencies also offer fee-free entrance days for everyone throughout the year to mark days of celebration and commemoration, including the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day.
Comments
A "veteran" is anyone honorably discharged from our Armed Forces. Many veterans would not have one of the acceptable forms of ID. Why not include a copy of one's DD-214 as a form of ID? Or, is the term veteran being used incorrectly to identify only those who are military retirees?
Of course a DD214 would be acceptable for the pass as its an official government document. And no, the law includes ALL veterans honorably discharged, not just retirees. It also probably includes those discharged "under honorable conditions", but I'm not positive.
My park is accepting the DD214, mainly because I'm a Veteran-However, NPS Fees is saying that it should not be accepted. This shows a basic misunderstanding of Veterans. As stated, many vets (myself included) do not have any of those required forms of ID. As the DD214 is the required piece of ID to obtain any of those other IDs, I have instructed my park to accept it. So far, no luck in getting WASO fees to change the official policy. Apparetntly they don't trust the NPS fee collectors to properly read a DD-214. I plan to bring this to the attention of Director Sams the next time I see him.
Walt, I fully agree that it is an official government document, but it's not listed as an acceptable form for getting the pass. It should be, but that's a bureaucratic policy decision made by someone that probably has no idea what a form DD-214 is. Hopefully, someone will correct the error.
I issue the passes and queried why the 214 would not be accepted. I was told it is a DoD decision, nothing to do with the NPS. I also asked why not just give the Lifetime one to active duty members, as they would qualify for it as soon as they left active duty. Same response.