On Veterans Day, November 11, Florida State Parks will provide free admission to all visitors as a gesture of appreciation for U.S. Armed Forces veterans. The initiative is part of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s efforts to honor those who have served and to encourage reflection on the nation’s history ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.
DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert stated, “This Veterans Day and every day, we honor our nation’s veterans and sincerely thank them for their selflessness and service. Spending time outdoors in our state parks allows us to take in the wonder of nature and reflect on the lands, values and, most importantly, the people they fought to protect.”
Several state parks have connections to military history. Avalon State Park in St. Lucie County was once a World War II training site for Frogmen who later became Navy SEALs. The General James A. Van Fleet State Trail in Polk County is named after a decorated veteran who graduated from West Point with Dwight D. Eisenhower and Omar Bradley. Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park in Baker County marks the site where the 54th Massachusetts Regiment fought during the Battle of Olustee. Orman House Historic State Park in Franklin County features a replica of the Three Servicemen Statue from Washington, D.C.’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
In addition to free entry on Veterans Day (excluding Skyway Fishing Pier State Park), Florida State Parks offer ongoing benefits for service members and their families throughout the year. These include discounted annual entrance passes for active-duty personnel and honorably discharged veterans, as well as free lifetime passes for veterans with service-connected disabilities or for surviving spouses and parents of those killed in combat.
Further information about how Florida State Parks recognize veterans can be found at https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/Florida-State-Parks-Appreciate-Veterans.
