Free national park passes now available for active duty service members
Jun 07, 2012 | 305 views | 0 0 comments | 6 6 recommendations | email to a friend | print
As part of the Joining Forces initiative to support the nation’s service members and their families, several U.S. government agencies will provide annual passes to active duty service members and their dependents. The passes will give service members free access to more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and other public lands around the nation in the coming years, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The passes became available May 19 to active duty service men and women – Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and activated National Guard and Reserves. The new military version of the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Annual Pass will be accepted at National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps sites that charge entrance or standard amenity fees, DOI officials said.

“Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to our service men and -women who make great sacrifices and put their lives on the lines to protect our country and preserve our freedom,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said. “In recognition of their contributions and service, we are putting out a welcome mat for these brave men and women and their families at America’s most beautiful and storied sites.”

Military members and their dependents can pick up a pass at any national park or wildlife refuge that charges an entrance fee, or at other selected sites, officials said. Members must show a current, valid military identification card to obtain their pass. The pass is also available to dependents of active duty personnel.

The pass covers the owner and accompanying passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle at recreation sites that charge per vehicle. At sites where per-person entrance fees are charged, it covers the pass owner and three accompanying adults age 16 and older. There is no entry fee for children 15 and under.

For more information on the pass, please visit: http://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html.
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