In advance of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, Alachua County announced that County buildings would be illuminated green from November 7 through November 13, 2022, 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 level 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 Service 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 beginning of our nation's history, we have had those who would step up to defend our freedom, safety, and security. They and their families have made immense sacrifices for our country," said Alachua County Veteran Services Director Kim Davis. "Our servicemembers have sacrificed for generations, and this service to the country also often results in significant stress to many veterans who served in times of war and conflict. We want to make sure our veterans and their families know that their service mattered, that we are grateful for their sacrifices, and that it is now our turn to make sure their County government and our community serve them."
In addition to lighting County buildings, 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.
While this event is focused around the week of Veterans Day, participants are encouraged to continue shining the light year-round. 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," said NACo President Denise Winfrey. "We encourage everyone to join us in displaying a green light for our veterans and to reflect on how we, as a nation and at the county level, assist our military service personal back into civilian life upon completing their service to our country."