News Release

Military Passes to Federal Recreation Areas Now Available at Andersonville National Historic Site

Andersonville Park Rangers giving out veterans pass to Andrew Redmond Col (Ret), USAF Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer National Infantry Museum Foundation

News Release Date: September 18, 2023 ANDERSONVILLE, GA -- On September 9, 2023, staff from Andersonville National Historic Site attended the rededication of the National Infantry Museum’s monument to the Global War on Terrorism at Fort Moore, in Columbus, Georgia. They distributed the new Lifetime Military passes to Gold Star family members and to the many veterans who were also in attendance.  In addition, the rangers distributed the annual Active Duty passes to current soldiers, many of whom were fresh out of basic training and on a 48-hour pass before beginning further specialized training at Fort Moore.

The event provided Andersonville National Historic Site the opportunity to announce that the park now offers both the Lifetime Military pass for veterans and Gold Star families and the Annual Active-Duty Military pass at the National POW Museum. 

The lifetime pass has been available since November 11, 2022, in gratitude for US military veterans’ and Gold Star families’ service and sacrifice. Since 2012, currently serving members of the military and their dependents have been eligible for a free Military Annual pass. These passes provide access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas.

To obtain a pass or be provided free access, Veterans must present one of the 4 forms of acceptable ID:

• Unexpired Department of Defense ID Card
• DD Form 2
• DD Form 2765 [Next Generation USID replacement]
• Veteran Health ID [VHIC]
• Veteran ID Card
• Veteran’s designation on a state-issued US driver’s license or ID card

Gold Star Families can obtain information, self-certify they qualify and download a voucher by visiting https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/veterans-and-gold-star-families-free-access.htm. If a Gold Star family member or veteran already has a lifetime Access or Senior Pass, there is no need to obtain a new pass.

Andersonville National Historic Site looks forward to a continued partnership with the National Infantry Museum and plans more opportunities to distribute passes with them in the future. There are more than 100 national parks, including Andersonville National Historic Site, with direct connections to the American military, including frontier forts, battlefields, national cemeteries and memorials. We are grateful for the selfless service given by those who have defended our country and invite and encourage them to enjoy everything that their public lands have to offer.  

For more information on how to obtain one of the free Military passes, call Susie Sernaker, Andersonville National Historic Site Chief of Interpretation, at 229 518-2846 or email her at [e-mail].

Andersonville National Historic Site is located 10 miles south of Oglethorpe, GA and 10 miles northeast of Americus, GA on Georgia Highway 49. The national park features the National Prisoner of War Museum, Andersonville National Cemetery, and the site of the historic Camp Sumter Civil War prison. Andersonville National Historic Site is the only unit of the National Park System to serve as a memorial to all American prisoners of war. Admission to the park is free. For more information about the park call 229 924-0343.