In advance of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, Randolph County has announced that select county buildings will be illuminated green November 7th through the 13th as part of Operation Green Light, 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 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.
“We’re seeking formal recognition of Operation Green Light to connect veterans with benefits they have earned,” said Chad Gurley, who served in the U.S. Army from 2005-2015 and serves as the Veteran Services Director for Randolph County. He noted that the veteran population in Randolph County has an average age of 65 years old. Randolph County also has one of the largest Korean and Vietnam War Veteran populations of the 100 counties in North Carolina.
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.
Shining a green light lets our veterans know they are seen, appreciated, and supported. While this event is focused around the week of Veterans Day (November 7th -13th), 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.”
Visit the Operation Greenlight webpage or the Randolph County Government webpage for more information and links to resources available to veterans.
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