County Announces Operation Green Light For Veterans
Roosevelt County commissioners have announced that in advance of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, Roosevelt County will have county buildings illuminated green on Nov. 7-13 as part of Operation Green Light.
Operation Green Light is a new, national collaborative initiative of the National Association of Counties (NACo) to support military veterans, as well as raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by many veterans and the resources that are available at the county, state and federal levels to assist veterans and their families.
The new national collaborative is spearheaded by the National Association of Counties and the National Association of County Veteran Services Officers, building upon the successful efforts of the New York State Association of Counties and the NYS County Veteran Service Officers’ Association in 2021.
“Since the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, our nation’s voluntary military force members, and their families, have made immense sacrifices for our safety and security over a two-decade period,” Roosevelt County commissioners Gordon Oelkers, Gary Macdonald and Duane Nygaard said in a press release. “Similar to the sacrifices of previous generations of our armed forces, this service to country also often results in significant stress to many of the veterans who served in times of war and conflict. We want to make sure our veterans and their families know that their service mattered, and that it is now our turn to make sure they are served by their county governments and our community.”
In addition to lighting county buildings, officials encourage residents and businesses are encouraged to participate by simply changing one light bulb in their house to a green bulb. This can be an exterior light that neighbors and passersby see, or an interior light that sparks a conversation with friends.
By shining a green light, citizens let our veterans know that they are seen, appreciated and supported. While this event is focused around the week of Veterans Day, participants are encouraged to continue shining the light throughout the year. Residents can share their participation on social media using the hashtag #OperationGreenLight.
“Operation Green Light is a simple way to express our collective appreciation for the public service of our veterans,” NACo president Denise Winfrey said. “We encourage everyone to join in displaying a green light for our veterans and to also reflect on how we, as a nation and at the county level, assist our military service personal back into civilian life upon completion of their service to our country.”
