Honor America-s Veterans at Battlefields and Military Parks Preserved in the National Park System

Veterans, Members of the U.S. armed forces and families admitted free WASHINGTON, D.C. Americans have always answered their countrys call to duty and fought no matter what the cause or reason for the war. The events of these wars and the people that fought and died for this country are valued by all Americans as links to our common heritage and our growth as a nation. Many of the places where they fought are today commemorated in areas managed by the National Park Service. Beginning this Veterans Day, November 11, 2006, U.S. veterans, members of the U.S. armed forces and their families will be admitted free-of-charge on Veterans Day to most public lands managed by the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture. The administrative fee waiver of entrance and/or standard amenity fees will apply annually on Veterans Day at public recreation lands managed by Interiors National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation and Agricultures U.S. Forest Service. The National Park Service has the honor of preserving many battlefields, military parks, and historic sites that commemorate and honor the service of American veterans. The ideals and freedoms they fought for are remembered throughout the National Park System in areas as diverse as Kings Mountain National Military Park in South Carolina, Fort McHenry National Monument in Maryland, Appomattox Court House National Historical Park in Virginia, Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania, USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site in Texas and Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana. National Parks preserve and commemorate these sites of historical significance in the on-going growth of this nation as part of its core mission to preserve important cultural resources. I invite everyone to visit our many national parks that preserve and commemorate the sacrifices and achievements of the men and women who have fought in Americas wars, said Mary A. Bomar, Director of the National Park Service. As we approach Veterans Day, what better way to learn about the hallowed places preserved in the National Park System and to honor the sacrifices of our veterans, than by visiting a national park. The National Park Service has developed and made available a web site to help plan visits to NPS sites that preserve the military and veteran heritage of our nation. By logging onto the Honor Americas Veterans at Battlefields and Military Park Preserved in the National Park System website at: www.nps.gov/pub_aff/veterans/honor.htm, people can learn of the many special places managed by the National Park Service. In addition to a list of national park sites, the web site includes information and web links to books and documents related to the theme of battlefields and military parks.