Veterans are a special part of our community. They're people, just like you and me, but they have made a sacrifice to protect others. My grandfather was a naval captain in World War II, and I grew up overseas with a lot of friends whose parents were veterans, so I have a huge amount of respect for any current or former member of the military. One thing I think many people struggle with is how to thank our veterans for keeping us all safe and allowing us to live the way we do because of their sacrifices.
People support veterans in different ways. Some give money to charities; others volunteer. My dad goes out of his way to buy meals for any uniformed servicemen and women he sees in the same restaurant as him. The problem is, not all of us have the ability to openly thank our active duty servicemen and women and our veterans, partially because without a uniform on, it's almost impossible to spot them -- they're "more camouflaged than ever." We all want to be able to show our appreciation, but most of us have no idea how.
That's exactly what Walmart's Greenlight a Vet program is all about. They're encouraging everyone to change one light outside their house to a green lightbulb in honor of our veterans, as green is the color of "hope, renewal, and well-being." The theory behind it is that even though we aren't always able to see our veterans, they can always see our appreciation. There's not always going to be a heart-warming welcome video or a tell-tale sign that someone's a veteran. Walmart's program is a great way for people who don't have much to give to support veterans.
Just because Veterans Day has passed, it doesn't mean we should stop thanking our veterans. The green light allows people to continue thanking veterans long after the official day has passed. So change a light to green and show your support to those who have put their lives on the line for our safety. And thank you, veterans, for everything you've done to ensure we can live safely and comfortably.
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