Parking fees will be waived at Virginia State Parks for everyone on Nov. 11 as a salute to Veterans. Many parks will still be featuring fall colors in mid-November and the weather is great for hiking and enjoying nature.

A Flag Retirement Ceremony for Veterans Day 2011

All parks will feature special programming in honor of Veterans Day between Nov. 9 and 11. For a list of programs and when they will be offered, click here. Here is a sampling of some of them:

Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park will be featuring its Luminary Program on Nov. 9. In addition to the luminaries along the trail, the program will start with a flag retirement ceremony and then will include a living history walk with costumed interpreters at various points. On Veterans Day the park will have ranger-led tours of the Hillsman House which became a Federal Field Hospital during the evening of April 6, 1865.

Surgeon's supplies at the Hillsman House

Westmoreland State Park will host a Veterans Appreciation event on Nov. 11. Attendees will be invited to write thank you notes to our deployed troops and are invited to bring non-perishable items for care packages to go with the thank you notes. Douthat State Park will also offer an opportunity to write thank you notes to our service men and women abroad. Belle Isle State Park, First Landing State, Powhatan State Park, and Shenandoah River State Park will be collecting and/or making care packages on Nov. 11. See the specific details by park.

Making care packages

On Nov. 11, Wilderness Road State Park  will offer “Heroes of American History” a tribute to all our Veterans highlighted by the passing of historical flags from the Revolutionary War to today’s Old Glory and featuring historical interpreters representing our service men and women of the period.

High Bridge Trail State Park is hosting a reception for Veterans and their families at the Farmville Train Station on Nov. 11. Shuttles will run from the Train Station to High Bridge for the opportunity to visit the bridge and enjoy a special program on Civil War history.

Consider a longer visit to one of our Virginia State Parks by reserving a cabin or campsite.  The weekday fall getaway cabin discount runs through November 14 and provides a 25% discount for Sunday through Thursday nights by using the code FALL25. Reservations can be made by calling 800-933-7275 or online.

Wilderness Road State Park honors our veterans throughout history