Florida State Parks appreciate veterans year-round.
To show our gratitude, the Florida Parks Service offers both current and retired service members a 25% discount on annual entrance passes to Florida's state parks. Additionally, veterans who have service-related injuries receive a free lifetime military pass. Surviving spouses and parents of deceased veterans who fell in combat also receive a free lifetime military pass. This waives their entrance fees into Florida’s state parks.
We know getting outside is important for veterans. Exercise, fresh air and sunshine make us healthier and reduce stress. The outdoors is where people enjoy their favorite hobbies, such as biking, walking, paddling, fishing or viewing wildlife. Florida State Parks preserve an abundance of historical and cultural sites that provide opportunities for reflection and remembrance.
At Orman House Historic State Park in Apalachicola, visitors can pay respect to Vietnam veterans at the park’s Three Servicemen Statue, a bronze replica of the Vietnam Memorial statue in Washington, D.C.
Service members frequently become successful park rangers. Skills learned in the military can be the foundation of skills needed in the Florida Park Service. Service members and park rangers share pride in their work, expertise in a variety of fields and a can-do attitude. Of 1,499 full-time and seasonal employees, veterans make up nearly 12% of our workforce. Additionally, countless employees and volunteers are the spouse, parent or sibling of a veteran or service member.
With the recent observance of Veterans Day, several staff members shared stories about how their time in the military gave them the skills necessary to join the Florida Park Service team.
See more employees who served in the US military.
