NATIONAL PARK SERVICE · news
Dunes Employee’s Suggestion Leads to Veterans Pass for National Parks
November 10, 2020 · Source: National Park Service
INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK: On August 19, Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt, visited Indiana Dunes National Park during a tour of the Midwest. In addition to learning about possible projects that could be funded through the Great American Outdoors Act, he wanted to meet with park employees for a question and answer session. During the session, Ryan Koepke, the park’s Fee Program Supervisor, asked why there wasn’t a free pass to the national parks for military veterans. Mr. Koepke’s question prompted the Department to testify to Congress that veterans should be added to a proposed bill that would allow free access to federal parklands for Gold Star families. Congress agreed and beginning this Veterans Day, November 11th, all military veterans and Gold Star families will have free access to approximately 2,000 federal public locations spread across more than 400 million acres of public lands.
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