The VA just announced that The National Park Service is now offering an Interagency Military Lifetime Pass, which waives entrance fees to national parks for current military service members and their dependents, Veterans, and Gold Star Families.
Eligible persons include someone who has served in the United States Armed Forces with one of the following valid 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
This pass can be acquired in person at various federal recreation sites, or online at the USGS Store for a processing fee of $10.
For more information, check out the VA news article on this new pass.
Author: Makenna Uriarte
Makenna began working for the American Legion Department of California in 2022 as the Information and Communications Coordinator. In addition to this role, she is also part of the web team where she uses her passion and training in graphic design to help monitor/update the Department of California website, publish news stories, and work with the editorial team on the California Legionnaire newsletter.
I have a pass to National Parks for over40 years. I received mine at Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco. All I showed was my VFW life membership ID and my Marine Corps Life time membersh card. You need to show you DD214 to join both those service organizations
FREE LIFETIME PASS TO ALL NATIONAL PARKS: When I took my family to Glacier National Park in 2006, I was then 65 years old. There was no line. The Ranger at the gate asked me my age and within 5 minutes she issued my life long free pass. While I have used it, six or so times over the last 16 years, I really believe that users should pay for the parks upkeep, unless Congress wants to allocate additional funding for the lost income.
I also note that most citizen warriors, either draftees, or volunteers seeking to avoid the draft, did their duty, some leaving promising jobs just as they were starting their civilian careers. While many took advantage of the G.I. Bill; for many, if not most, that was their last contact with the Veterans Administration or the Military. No military I.D. cards, all they had to show was their DD-214. which is not listed as acceptable I.D. as prof for the National Park Pass.
I agree! While I have registered with the VA for medical benefits, I have never used them or anything else from the VA. However, I have pre-planned my burial plans at the Riverside California National Cemetary with my local mortuary. It is the only VA benefit I will be taking advantage of. Many of our fellow Vietnam Era Veterans have not even registered with the VA for the benefits they earned, let alone used them.