November 4, 2022 – In advance of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, El Paso County announces Centennial Hall will be illuminated green November 7th through the 13th as part of Operation Green Light. This 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.
“We want to thank our veterans and their families for their service, and we appreciate all the sacrifices they have made,” said Stan VanderWerf, El Paso County Board of Commissioners Chair. “We at El Paso County are committed to ensuring that we are doing everything we can to provide them with the support and resources they need.”
In addition to lighting Centennial Hall, 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, we let our 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. 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 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.”
Visit naco.org/operationgreenlight or justiceservices.elpasoco.com/veterans-services/ for more information and links to resources available to veterans.