Our Purpose
As a combat veteran, I take pride in many aspects of the country I fought to defend, but perhaps none more than the National Parks. Years ago, I became aware of the 1920 National Park-to-Park Highway Tour, and it captivated my imagination. I envisioned someday embarking on a modern-day version of the expedition. Now, I am making that dream a reality in time to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the original tour—and I am bringing my family along.
The 1920 tour traveled between 12 National Parks over 76 days promoting the “Good Roads” movement in the early days of the automobile. Departing to the north from Denver, they drove a clockwise circle through the Northern Rockies, down the Pacific Coast, across the desert Southwest, and back to Denver. Today, there are more than two dozen Parks along roughly the same route and vastly better infrastructure connecting them. We have designed a plan to visit 25 Parks, including the original 12, over three 30-day trips in three consecutive summers, beginning in summer 2020. My traveling companions will be my wife and two daughters, ages 10 and 8 in the first year.
Our mission is to highlight the value and opportunities National Parks offer to all Americans, with a particular focus on military veterans and their families. The girls plan to use their voices to shine a light on conservation and endangered species. I will talk about access to Parks for veterans in search of healing, service, and recreation opportunities.
Through our shared voices, we will convey the special story of this family adventure. In 2020 and 2022, we celebrate the National Parks Service’s “Every Kid Outdoors” —a program that gives fourth graders and their families free entrance to all National Parks Service sites nationwide. We also hope to challenge families to find their local parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and historical sites.
Most importantly, this project will allow us to explore some of our greatest National Parks alongside together—sharing in the grandeur of our nation’s playground together.