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SALT LAKE CITY — In an effort to honor active members of the military and veterans, Utah's state parks will offer free entrance Saturday.
Day-use entrance fees into all 42 of Utah's state parks will be waived as part of Military Appreciation Day. Special activities will also take place in several of the parks across the state.
"Utah State Parks staff thanks the U.S. service members and their families for the sacrifices they make and have made for our country," Utah State Parks Director Fred Hayes said in a statement. "We encourage them to visit their state parks and have some fun by getting outdoors and creating new memories."
Here are some of the events taking place during Saturday's Military Appreciation Day:
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park near Kanab will hold a pancake breakfast from 7-10 a.m. for active military and veterans.
- A 5K race will be held at 7:30 a.m. at Jordanelle State Park near Heber. Along the course, runners will pick up flags representing each of the major wars. All 5K runners will receive participation medals and race shirts and awards will be given for first, second and third place finishers in each age category. A pancake breakfast will be available for $3 per person with all proceeds going to the National Ability Center's Veteran and Military Programs.
- At 7 p.m., Scofield State Park near Price will offer free hamburgers and hotdogs in the Mountain View campground at 5 p.m. Then a flag-lowering ceremony will be held by the National Guard. Visitors can enjoy a presentation on the U.S. flag and learn how to properly retire one. All veterans will receive free camping for the night.
- Yuba State Park near Levan will hold a free pancake breakfast from 8-10 a.m. for all military personnel. Breakfast will be cooked and served by the Boy Scouts of America Troop 1340 from Bluffdale, and the scouts will perform a flag ceremony prior to breakfast.
- Frontier Homestead State Park Museum near Cedar City will hold a variety of frontier soldier-themed activities including writing letters with ink and quill, learning to communicate with signal flags and codes, learning close order drills and firing a cannon every hour. The activities will run from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
