Forum Index > Trail Talk > All veterans to get free access to federal lands for life.
 Reply to topic
Previous :: Next Topic
Author Message
MyFootHurts
Huge Member



Joined: 22 Nov 2011
Posts: 912 | TRs | Pics
Location: Kekistan
MyFootHurts
Huge Member
PostTue Nov 10, 2020 11:29 am 
Starting tomorrow. That 3 years I did in the Army back in the 90s is now saving me $80/year. https://kutv.com/news/local/veterans-gold-star-families-can-get-free-admission-to-national-parks-for-life KUTV — U.S. military veterans and Gold Star Families will be granted free access to all national parks, national wildlife refuges, and other federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior, the Trump administration announced Tuesday. The offer begins on Wednesday, Veterans Day, this year, and every day onward. For the program, a veteran is identified as a person who has served in the United States Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, and can 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 Here's how to get a veterans ID card if you don't have one yet. https://www.va.gov/records/get-veteran-id-cards/vic/

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
nordique
Member
Member


Joined: 04 May 2008
Posts: 1086 | TRs | Pics
nordique
Member
PostTue Nov 10, 2020 5:38 pm 
Thanks, will have to look into that! I had not heard that announcement. I've been buying passes for decades now, except for the old age pass I use often. I also enjoyed the benefit of going to grad school on the GI Bill but I'd trade all that for not having been drafted in the first place! The first of my nine right leg surgeries was in Saigon in 1968, after my right tibia was shattered from knee to ankle by an AK-47 sniper round. The rest of my right leg surgeries were covered by my generous employer medical insurance.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
meck
Member
Member


Joined: 31 Dec 2010
Posts: 920 | TRs | Pics
meck
Member
PostTue Nov 10, 2020 6:18 pm 
Very cool MyFootHurts! Thank you for posting this (I know I will be looking into this). Here is the NPS link (same info you already posted)

*Just say NO to Rent-Seeking, don't give up the concept of "ownership"*
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Cyclopath
Faster than light



Joined: 20 Mar 2012
Posts: 7694 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle
Cyclopath
Faster than light
PostTue Nov 10, 2020 6:30 pm 
up.gif

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
williswall
poser



Joined: 30 Sep 2007
Posts: 1963 | TRs | Pics
Location: Redmond
williswall
poser
PostTue Nov 10, 2020 7:01 pm 
nordique wrote:
Thanks, will have to look into that!
Well, you could have acquired a lifetime pass for $10 (now $80) once you turned 62....surely you knew that?

I desire medium danger williswall.com
Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Felpudo
Member
Member


Joined: 04 Sep 2018
Posts: 40 | TRs | Pics
Felpudo
Member
PostTue Nov 10, 2020 10:28 pm 
Dang Nordique. Thanks for your service. I think I would have given up on hiking after a half dozen leg surgeries.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Randito
Snarky Member



Joined: 27 Jul 2008
Posts: 9495 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bellevue at the moment.
Randito
Snarky Member
PostTue Nov 10, 2020 10:31 pm 
Thanks for your service. It seems like the least we can do for folks that serve their country and put themselves in harms way.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
whitebark
Member
Member


Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Posts: 1864 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle
whitebark
Member
PostFri Nov 13, 2020 4:58 pm 
Not to be a party pooper (we all love veterans), but this seems to be a big loss of revenue for the parks and forests. How is that loss going to be made up for?

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
altasnob
Member
Member


Joined: 29 Aug 2007
Posts: 1382 | TRs | Pics
Location: Tacoma
altasnob
Member
PostSat Nov 14, 2020 10:09 am 
I agree with the sentiments above and so does my Dad, who was drafted and served in combat in Vietnam (also drafted after grad school). This is not to disrespect Veterans. I don't understand the logic in free passes for old people as well. If you want to compensate Veterans more for their service, then compensate them more. Don't dupe everyone into thinking you care about Veterans' compensation by giving them $80 a year at the expense of federal lands funding.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Randito
Snarky Member



Joined: 27 Jul 2008
Posts: 9495 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bellevue at the moment.
Randito
Snarky Member
PostSat Nov 14, 2020 5:46 pm 
whitebark wrote:
Not to be a party pooper (we all love veterans), but this seems to be a big loss of revenue for the parks and forests. How is that loss going to be made up for?
Access fees are IMHO the boondoggle -- Congress is able to prioritize spending billions to buy aircraft, tanks, etc that the pentagon didn't request and to give trillions of tax cuts to people and corporations with more than $500,000 / year in income.

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Cyclopath
Faster than light



Joined: 20 Mar 2012
Posts: 7694 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle
Cyclopath
Faster than light
PostSat Nov 14, 2020 7:14 pm 
Anyway it's great a lot of people have one less thing standing between them and the great outdoors. smile.gif

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
schifferj
Member
Member


Joined: 07 Mar 2015
Posts: 224 | TRs | Pics
Location: 509
schifferj
Member
PostSun Nov 15, 2020 10:32 am 
Cyclopath wrote:
Anyway it's great a lot of people have one less thing standing between them and the great outdoors. smile.gif
Although I have some thoughts I'm not going to go into the politics of this issue. One problem I do see is how does one for example park their car at the trailhead of 8 mile lake and take advantage of this. With the NW Forest Pass, The Golden Eagle Pass etc you hang the pass on the window and the "ticketing agency" knows you're good to go. Will they be trained to recognize a military ID lying on your dashboard? Will you feel safe leaving your military ID lying on your dashboard?

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
zephyr
aka friendly hiker



Joined: 21 Jun 2009
Posts: 3361 | TRs | Pics
Location: West Seattle
zephyr
aka friendly hiker
PostSun Nov 15, 2020 12:06 pm 
schifferj wrote:
Will you feel safe leaving your military ID lying on your dashboard?
Don't do this. Not a good idea at all. Always keep your i.d. on your person or in a secure location. I don't even feel comfortable leaving my Senior Pass on the dash. ~z

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Dante
Member
Member


Joined: 16 Dec 2001
Posts: 2815 | TRs | Pics
Dante
Member
PostSun Nov 15, 2020 1:34 pm 
up.gif I have a December 10 appointment at the Department of Licensing to: 1. Get an Enhanced Drivers License 2. Add the Veteran Designation to my Drivers License, and 3. Get my corrective lenses restriction removed I already have a Veteran ID Card from the Department of Veterans Affairs, but I try to minimize the number of cards I carry. UPDATE: The Washington Post says veterans may get an America the Beautiful Pass for free by presenting a Veteran Health Identification Card, Veteran ID card or a Veteran-designated state ID. Don't use your veteran ID as a pass. "Veterans, including those who served in the National Guard and Reserve, can claim a free America the Beautiful Pass by presenting a valid Department of Defense Identification Card, Veteran Health Identification Card, Veteran ID card or a Veteran-designated state ID."

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
Randito
Snarky Member



Joined: 27 Jul 2008
Posts: 9495 | TRs | Pics
Location: Bellevue at the moment.
Randito
Snarky Member
PostSun Nov 15, 2020 1:44 pm 
FWIW: There is a "Military America The Beautiful" pass. Getting one of those and leaving it on the dash in places where a parking permit is required seems like a better way to go than leaving your ID on the dash. https://store.usgs.gov/faq#US-Military

Back to top Reply to topic Reply with quote Send private message
   All times are GMT - 8 Hours
 Reply to topic
Forum Index > Trail Talk > All veterans to get free access to federal lands for life.
  Happy Birthday speyguy, Bandanabraids!
Jump to:   
Search this topic:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum