A Green Porch Light

I’d never seen a green porch light, much less known that if I had, there was a meaning behind it. However, I recently found out a green light on a front porch sends a very specific and important message.

On Memorial Day 2013, Walmart launched a special campaign called “Green Light a Veteran”. The goal was to spark a national conversation regarding the recognition of veterans and all they’ve made possible for our country and us, it’s citizens. By 2015, over 515,000 households had participated. Since then, individual communities have adopted and deepened the program using a toolkit from the National Association of Counties. It’s now called Operation Green Light.

Given that Memorial Day is just around the corner, I thought it fitting to share this story now and perhaps inspire participation. Imagine how powerful it would be if our Southwood neighborhood started a green light tradition running from Memorial Day to Veterans Day in November? With more than 1.5 million veterans in Texas - no doubt a few in Southwood for sure — our green lights would be a small but significant symbol.

Coming back has got to be profoundly hard. A green light on your front porch will remind a vet they are not forgotten and their service appreciated.

And if you’re curious why green? It’s the color of hope and the term ‘greenlight’, is commonly used in the military to activate forward movement. Through the campaign, the goal was/is to ‘greenlight’ veterans forward as valued members of our communities.