Gold Star Families Closer To Receiving Free Access To Acadia National Park

Thanks to two big time Maine politicians, families who have given so much are one step closer to free access to our country's National Parks.

Back on February 27th of this year, Senator Angus King and Democratic Representative Jared Golden introduced the Gold Star Families Park Pass Act, an newly proposed law that would allow immediate family members of military servicemen and women that have lost their lives while serving their country free admission to our nation's national parks.

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5998.  The proposal will now be passed along to the U.S. Senate for vote and if approved will be given to the President for signature into law.

Representative Golden who served as a Marine in both Iraq and Afghanistan tell us that the "free access is a small but meaningful way for our country to thank Gold Star Families.”

Here in Maine, we scoured the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry website for information about Gold Star Families and admission to Maine State Parks and could not find any.  As it stands right now Maine resident active duty military personnel, disabled veterans, their spouses and unmarried children, can gain free access for life to Maine State Parks with a Veteran's Pass.  More information on all of that HERE.

Anyway, we thank both King and Golden and the members of the U.S. House of Representatives for this gesture, and hope that the families of the fallen will take comfort and pleasure in visiting National Parks like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Acadia right here in Maine.

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