|
County Buildings Across New York State Illuminated
Green This Week in Support of Veterans During ‘Operation Green Light’
Published: November 09, 2021
at 06:45 p.m.
PHOTOS: The Lewis County
Court House is illuminated green this week in support of veterans during ‘Operation
Green Light’, an initiate taking place across New York State encouraging
residents, businesses, and governments to shine a green light to let
veterans know they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Details on the
initiative can be found below in the press release from the New York State
Association of Counties.
COUNTY BUILDINGS ILLUMINATED GREEN IN SUPPORT OF
VETERANS DURING ‘OPERATION GREEN LIGHT’
In support of
America’s veterans, this week county buildings across the state are
lighting up green as part of a new initiative called Operation Green
Light, to encourage residents, businesses, and governments
to light up their homes, buildings, courthouses, and bridges green. By
shining a green light, participants let veterans know that they are seen,
appreciated, and supported.
“Operation Green
Light is a simple way to show support for our veterans and raise awareness
about the challenges veterans face as they return from the war in Afghanistan
and transition back to civilian life,” said Tioga County Chairwoman Marte Sauerbrey, president of
the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC). “For this Veterans Day
and beyond, we encourage everyone to join with us in displaying a green
light of hope and support for the men and women who fought to defend our
country and our way of life.”
Operation Green
Light is a collaboration between the NYSAC, the NYS County Executives’
Association, and the NYS County Veteran Service Officers’ Association and
is intended to support veterans of all military conflicts, with a special
emphasis on the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. The campaign also seeks
to raise awareness about the challenges faced by many veterans and the
resources that are available at the county, state, and federal level to
assist veterans and their families.
Residents are
encouraged to participate by 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.
More than 30
counties across New York State are participating in
the initiative with dozens already lighting county buildings,
including:
- Broom County – Departments throughout the
Broom County Office Building
- Clinton County – Old Clinton County
Courthouse
- Dutchess County – Dutchess
County Office Building
- Livingston County – Livingston County
Courthouse
- Madison County – Madison County
Courthouse
- Monroe County – Rochester Airport
- Oneida County - Oneida County Office Building
- Onondaga County – Onondaga County Courthouse,
Carnegie Building, War Memorial, Everson Museum
- Oswego County – Oswego County
Courthouse
- Orange County – Orange County Government
Center
- Rensselaer County – American Flag display
outside of County Office Building
- Steuben County – Steuben County Office
Building
- Tioga County– Tioga County Courthouse
- Tompkins County – All 14 county buildings and
Ithaca City Hall
NYSAC has also
asked Governor Hochul and Mayor DeBlasio to
participate in the effort to support our veterans by illuminating State and
City buildings and bridges.
Jason Skinner,
President of the NYS County Veterans Service Officers’ Association said, “I would
like to thank all who support Operation Green light. Everyone can make a
difference in the lives of a newly discharged service member. First and
foremost, leaving military service is the end of one career and the
beginning of the next one. Removing barriers to employment is a major
component of this initiative. The military instills great qualities that
any employer would benefit from. Thanks to NYSAC, their leadership is
shining the light on this and many other ways we can help our nations heroes.”
“This is the
first Veterans Day in nearly two decades to be celebrated during peacetime.
Many veterans are returning home and many more are wondering what their
sacrifice over the last 20 years means. We wanted to do something to
welcome those veterans home
and honor their sacrifice and the sacrifice of all our nation’s
veterans in a way that everyone could see,” said NYSAC
Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. “Operation
Green Light gives individuals, businesses and government leaders a way to
reach out and let members of the veteran community know what we’re with
them and that we appreciate all that they have done to protect our country
and our way of life.”
Additional
counties participating in the Operation Greenlight
Initiative, include:
- Allegany County
- Albany County
- Chemung County
- Cortland County
- Delaware County
- Franklin County
- Fulton County
- Greene County
- Herkimer County
- Jefferson County
- Lewis County
- Orleans County
- Saratoga County
- Schoharie County
- Schuyler County
- Ulster County
- Warren County
- Wyoming County
“By shining a
green light, we let veterans know that 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,” said Acquario.
Participants are
encouraged to share their participation on social media using the hashtag
#OperationGreenLight.
Visit www.nysac.org/operationgreenlight for more
information and links to resources available to veterans.
|
