Park Ranger and U.S. Army veteran Jason Zimmer shares the wonder of ‘ohelo berries with visitors on the floor of Kilauea Iki crater. Photo by Jay Robinson

MEDIA RELEASE

Wondering what to do this Veterans Day holiday, Wednesday, November 11, 2009?

One idea is to come and enjoy America’s Best Idea—visit a national park such as Hawai‘i Volcanoes, Pu‘uhonua o Honaunau, Kaloko-Honokohau, and Pu‘ukohola Heiau.

To honor America’s service men and women, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that areas managed by the department will not charge entrance fees on Veterans Day.

“Visitors to national parks are invited to take a day to honor and reflect on what our service men and women have done to maintain our freedom and keep peace around the world,” Salazar said.

“The Department of the Interior is honored to offer this fee free day to thank our nation’s service men and women,” said Salazar. “The sacrifices and achievements of the brave men and women of our armed forces can never be understated. We invite all of our visitors to enjoy this fee free day and take time out on this national holiday to remember our service men and women who are currently serving overseas in harms way. ”

“I’m part of a military family,” said Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “Hawai‘i Volcanoes is the perfect place this Veterans Day for families to spend time together, reconnect with nature, and create precious memories.”

Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day, marking the anniversary of the ending of World War I at the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month in 1918.

Following World War II, the name of the holiday was changed to Veterans Day to honor those who died in all American wars. The day has since evolved to be a time of honoring veterans who have served in the military during wartime or peacetime.

The National Park Service has the honor of preserving many battlefields, military parks, and historic sites that commemorate the service of American veterans and the ideals and freedoms they fought for.

Log onto the Honor America’s Veterans at Battlefields and Military Park Preserved in the National Park System website at: http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/veterans/honor.htm and learn of the many special places managed by the National Park Service.

The site includes information and web links to books and documents related to the theme of battlefields and military parks such as World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument on O‘ahu.