The Livingston County Courthouse shines bright in green as part of Operation Green Light, a nationwide initiative honoring veterans and raising awareness for their needs. Photo by Travis Clark
In 2021, then Livingston County Veteran Services Director Jason Skinner first introduced the idea of Operation Green Light, a county-wide initiative intended to honor veterans throughout the community.
The plan was simple; residents would display a green light at their home or business to show support for local veterans and draw attention to the assistance they need upon leaving military service. Skinner likely never imagined how quickly his idea would be taken up or how large it would soon grow.
“Operation Green Light began here in Livingston County and interest in the program spread across the country almost immediately,” said Livingston County Veteran Services Director David Terry. “Having this start in Livingston County is an honor and testament to the pride, services and programs that shine bright on the veteran community here.”
Today, state houses, government buildings, businesses and residences across the country now display a green light in support of servicemembers during the week leading up to Veterans Day. In Livingston County, officials encourage all residents to shine a green light at their home or business for Operation Green Light from Oct. 9 through Nov. 15, 2024. Terry said he’s impressed to see how much Operation Green Light expands both locally and nationally each year.
“Over the last few years, more and more green lights continue to show up throughout the county,” he said. “The very thought of someone physically taking an action to replace a light with a green one to honor veterans speaks volumes of our community. I love when I travel through our county on a road less traveled and see every home on a block in green, because I know they are sparking conversation and raising awareness for our vets.”
With approximately 200,000 servicemembers transitioning back to civilian life annually and an expected 20% increase in this number in the near future, drawing attention to the needs of this unique population is more important than ever, added Terry. Statistics show that the risk of suicide is about 2.5 times higher for veterans in the first year after transitioning to civilian life than for the active-duty military population.
As a Green Light for Military Service County, the Livingston County Board of Supervisors has pledged to tackle this issue head on by supporting Onward Ops Military Transition Support, formerly known as the Expiration Term of Service Peer Mentorship Program. It connects new veteran residents with local mentors who offer their support and guidance to military personnel both before and after leaving military service. Terry said it can sometimes be a shock for service members to go from a strict and regimented military lifestyle to the freedoms of civilian life. He hopes community support for veteran programs like this will encourage more veterans to consider making Livingston County their home after leaving the armed forces.
To learn more about becoming a local mentor for a returning veteran, call (585) 243-7960. For information on veteran programs and services available through Livingston County, visit the Livingston County Veteran Services website.
