[Columbia, SC] - On Friday, November 10, Riverbanks will honor all service men and women with free admission when they show a military ID card. Family members who accompany military personnel and veterans are eligible for Riverbanks’ military discount price of $8.50 for adults; children 3-12 are $7.25 and kids under age 3 are free.

“In honor of Veterans Day, we want to show our appreciation for all the service men and women who have made sacrifices for our freedom,” said Satch Krantz, executive director at Riverbanks. “While this is one way we can express gratitude, it is a small gesture compared to the commitment these individuals have made to our country.”

In addition to commemorating the heroic soldiers of past and present, Riverbanks is also celebrating the return of one of its own defending servicemen. Jerry Thrall, Zoo horticulturist, is part of the 169th Logistics Group in the South Carolina Air National Guard. Serving as an education and training manager in the Guard, he was recently deployed to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, for a training mission. Riverbanks supported Jerry throughout his leave of absence and recently welcomed him back.

Fort Jackson Basic Combat Training graduates who come to the Zoo in uniform on the Friday of their graduation will also receive free admission.