FYSA this Saturday:
[url "http://www.ksl.com/?sid=35915456&nid=1288&title=utah-state-parks-offer-free-day-for-military-veterans"]http://www.ksl.com/?sid=35915456&nid=1288&title=utah-state-parks-offer-free-day-for-military-veterans[/url]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Kim,[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]I harbor absolutely no ill feelings against you for posting that link. Thank you for doing so. However, that article only covers part of why this free day program came about and I'm fairly certain most folks don't know all of the why. So I'm adding some comments concerning the why.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]I am a 70% disabled veteran with 20 years plus on active duty. So please know that I am NOT against honoring all military veterans calling Utah home. However, the KSL article and the Utah State Parks agency is only telling you part of the story here. What they and nobody else is telling you is this. This free day for all veterans is a replacement policy for the old policy of issuing a good for life pass (called a Fun Tag) to any disabled veteran meeting certain requirements. The State Parks Board decided last year that this program was not in compliance with the Federal ADA program and needed to be changed. Mr. Hayes came up with a proposal that would have been in compliance and presented it to the Parks Board for approval on May 6, 2015. Board Chair Irene Hansen decided it was too much of a financial burden on the State Parks budget and convinced the Board to reject the proposal. This free day for all veterans is the replacement proposal to replace taking away the disabled veterans full year access to all state parks.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Some of you may think that is a fair trade off; I do not. I think Utah disabled veterans have once again been given a slap across the face by state bureaucrats.[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]The only saving grace in this story is the fact that Utah Parks will continue honoring the old Fun Tag for the time being. If you have one and lose it, it will NOT be replaced.[/#800000][/font]
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If you are a disabled veteran you have paid for your State Parks pass in ways that those bureaucrats will never understand. I would never call that a "free pass".
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Amen and amen to both of you. I'm not a disabled veteran, at least not service related disabled. But I am a 20 year active duty retired veteran and Utah has been my adopted home since 1999. I was a bit surprised when I first got here to learn that as a veteran I still paid full price for my fishing license, my drivers license, and state park access. Granted, that was in 1999 before there was a 9-11, or Afghan / Iraq war. But there was still quite a large population of veterans in this state, especially from SLC north due to the numerous military centers. I'm not looking for everything given to me free and I don't believe any other veteran is either. As veterans we have learned the value of earned honors. Utah veterans plates on vehicles even makes the statement "Utah Honors Veterans" but that plate will cost you a few bucks more than the standard plate. It's kind of like putting a sign on the Military "Fire Ext" that say break glass in case of war, BUT veterans keep off the grass when you come home (if you come home).
MSgt. USAF 1973-1993 (Ret)
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Dear Board Chair Irene Hansen,
Every veteran risked his or her LIFE to preserve our country. Some of them are now disabled for LIFE because of it. Instead of honoring them, you now soooo generously allow them one DAY of free parks access.
Shame, woman. Shame, shame, shame on you.
Yours disrespectfully,
One who came home unscathed
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Thanks for posting Kim, we will be chasing bambi in the forest this weekend with a stick and a string. [cool]
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[quote PACKFAN]Thanks for posting Kim, we will be chasing bambi in the forest this weekend with a stick and a string. [cool][/quote]
Pop gun?
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Lol, correct Utahan !
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I was told they discontinued the discount for state parks passes because they had no way to verify who was a disabled vet ?
They give a 5 dollar discount on a fishing license, but not a combination license.
Then I heard they were going to give a free state parks pass to all disabled vets.
What a shame the vets go to the back of the line again.
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[quote fisherman]I was told they discontinued the discount for state parks passes because they had no way to verify who was a disabled vet ? [font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]You were told wrong. It had to do with ADA compliance. Every disabled veteran gets a letter from the VA showing his disability percentage that was used to get both the Federal access pass and the old state Fun Tag.[/#800000][/font]
They give a 5 dollar discount on a fishing license, but not a combination license. [font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]True story there and how much sense does that make - none.[/#800000][/font]
Then I heard they were going to give a free state parks pass to all disabled vets. [font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]They used to do that; it was the old Fun Tag. Ms. Hansen decided that would cost too much so it has been discontinued.[/#800000][/font]
What a shame the vets go to the back of the line again. [font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Yep![/#800000][/font][/quote]
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