The effort is part of a larger campaign organized by the National Association of Counties and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers.
From Nov. 4-11, county buildings and landmarks across the United States will be illuminated green to show support for veterans and raise awareness around the resources available at the county, state and federal levels to assist veterans and their families.
Now in its fifth year, Operation Green Light for Veterans is expected to draw hundreds of participating counties from states across the nation. The county role in administering services for veterans includes County Veterans Service Officers helping fellow former service members access more than $52 billion in federal health, disability and compensation benefits each year, as well as other services supporting the approximately 200,000 service members who transition into civilian communities annually.
“Operation Green Light is an opportunity to thank veterans for both their service to our nation and their contributions to our community,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase said in a press release. “With hundreds of counties coming together to light up everything from courthouses to bridges, we know veterans will see and feel our gratitude for their selflessness and courage.”
The collaborative effort in Macon includes efforts leadership from the county’s honor guard, the VFW chapter, the American Legion, 828 Vets, Vietnam Veterans of America and the Veterans Services Office. It was brought to the attention of the public during the October county commission meeting by Commissioner Gary Shields, a Vietnam veteran himself.
“Last year I dropped the ball on this; this year I’m going to make up for it, being a veteran,” Shields said, adding that he simply hadn’t thought far ahead enough then to get momentum until it was a bit too late.
The board ultimately approved a resolution supporting Operation Green Light for Veterans at that meeting.
“Macon County encourages its citizens in patriotic tradition to recognize the importance of honoring all those who made immeasurable sacrifices to preserve freedom by displaying green lights in a window of their place of business or residence from November 4th through the 11th, 2025,” the resolution reads.
Leigh Tabor, Macon County Veterans Services Director and president of the North Carolina Association of County Veterans, explained why the name Operation Green Light was chosen for the initiative. The name hearkens back to the beginning of the Cold War when President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered multiple branches’ special forces to create small units — called “green light teams” — that could deploy behind enemy lines with little notice, carrying portable nuclear weapons in backpacks that could cause catastrophic damage to strategic targets.
“The goal now is to show local veterans that they are seen, appreciated, supported, and to raise awareness of resources available to them and their families,” Tabor said.
The initiative only asks that any participants change one regular light out for a green bulb, but folks participate at different levels. Tabor noted that in some bigger cities, whole buildings and bridges are lit up green.
Army veteran Kenneth Elkins said he’s already put green lights along his fenceline.
“I got two spotlights, one of my porch, one in my car port,” he said. “I just ordered four more for the yard, and I’ve got extra bulbs if anybody needs one.”
The plan is for volunteers to also go around to some of the local businesses and institutions to see if they will participate.
“My idea with the honor guard was to maybe try and get with some of the bigger veterans cemeteries around the county, and I’ll try to find spotlights for the ones that do have a spotlight on the flag, and try to try to put those in the cemetery,” said Honor Guard Captain Shane McConnell.
The goal is to raise awareness of Operation Green Light for Veterans among residents and business owners in hopes that many will be able to put up a light this year, but looking forward, Shields and crew is hoping to gain momentum in the months leading up to Veterans Day and that more will participate. They also want to talk to hardware stores ahead of time to make sure some are stocked up. Next year, they may even try to see if there’s a local organization or charitable campaign that could receive some monetary donations off the sales of green light, as long as regulations and laws would allow it.
In addition, the green lights will likely be used as part of another initiative around the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence next year, which is shaping up to be a big event nationwide.
In all cases, the mission of showing appreciation for those who served will be accomplished through improving their lives, and that’s something that’s always front and center for Tabor, who wanted to remind anyone who served in the military for any amount of time in any capacity who hasn’t yet explored what benefits and services may be available to them to reach out to her office or the VSO for whatever county they reside.
“We’re not employed by the VA, we’re employed by the county, and my job is to be an advocate for veterans …I have no problem arguing with the VA or calling them out if they’re doing something that’s not in the veterans best interest,” Tabor said.
Tabor also said the Charles George VA in Asheville and its community clinics, including one in Franklin, are not what they used to be. Older veterans who remember shoddy care and services may be surprised to learn that Western North Carolina now offers some of the best care for veterans in the nation.
“Generally, you’re going to get good care. Now, does that mean that every veteran loves the VA? No, it does not. It’s a personal preference. But as far as care goes, it’s leaps and bounds from what it used to be,” Tabor said.
A lot of times, veterans think that because they aren’t currently dealing with a service-connected injury or disability or didn’t serve in combat, they aren’t entitled to or don’t deserve benefits, but that’s wrong, Tabor said.
“All a veteran has to do is reach out to their county, and then we can help them say, ‘Yeah, you’re eligible for this, or we think you’re not,'” she said. “We don’t make the decision. We ultimately let the VA make the decision. But I mean as far as home loans, education, VA, Disability Benefits, pension, nursing homes — I mean the gamut — that’s what we handle and what we do.”
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