Earlier this year, the Interior Department offered free annual passes to National Parks to military personnel and their families, and now at least one state is following suit for its parks. New Hampshire recently passed a law that offers servicemembers free admittance to all of its state parks, The Associated Press reports.
The law was the result of a push by local resident Mary Thayer, whose son is Master Gunnery Sgt. Richard Thayer. During a visit to the Granite State last year, Thayer and her son noticed that state parks offered free admittance to members of the National Guard, but not all active duty soldiers.
The new legislation changed all that, and now any member of the military can visit one of the state's many parks free of charge, the AP reports. The law echoes the move by the Interior Department earlier this year, which waived the $80 fee for an annual pass.
"In recognition of their service, we are so pleased to be putting out a welcome mat for our military families at America's most beautiful and storied sites," Dr. Jill Biden said when she announced the program.