Posted on Mar 25, 2016
Are Green porch lights ("Greenlight a Vet") meaningful to you?
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Veteran's Day last year, stores sold green bulbs saying it was to support veterans. I feel it is another meaningless act. Better idea: find a local vet who needs help with groceries or transport or companionship or donate socks and toiletries to the Outreach programs. I was attacked on FB for expressing this opinion. So I am asking your opinion which means something.
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Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 172
My opinion? That $3.98 you are about to spend on a light bulb you will throw in the trash next month.... Go buy a hamburger and hand it to the first homeless vet you see.
It may be a bit cynical of me, but I view the wrist bands, yellow tie thingys, green light bulbs, wear red day, ect ect..and all the rest as an easy way out.. a feel good thing folks do so then can tell themselves they are supporting.
Really it is a cop out, and easy way to make a hollow claim of support.. Putting no effort at all in to the task..it is meaningless and quite honestly Id rather those folks just ignore vets ...that would at least be honest ....as that is what they do the other 315,575,80 seconds in the year they are not screwing a light bulb in.
It may be a bit cynical of me, but I view the wrist bands, yellow tie thingys, green light bulbs, wear red day, ect ect..and all the rest as an easy way out.. a feel good thing folks do so then can tell themselves they are supporting.
Really it is a cop out, and easy way to make a hollow claim of support.. Putting no effort at all in to the task..it is meaningless and quite honestly Id rather those folks just ignore vets ...that would at least be honest ....as that is what they do the other 315,575,80 seconds in the year they are not screwing a light bulb in.
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SPC Louis Gillespie
Token help is symbolic at best and it means something to some however if you wish to be helpful, help a veteran you know or don't know for that matter. My insistence and discipline for my brothers and sisters have saved some of their lives because they were Viet Nam Era Vets and didn't think they were entitled to any benefits any longer due to time constraints . I quickly put an end to those thoughts and insisted they seek medical treatment at the VA. They each had different issues but are doing well. I myself seek treatment with the VA for issues that was inflicted by the armed forces specifically against Viet Nam Era Vets. So what I am saying is help if you can no matter how big or small sometimes just a little conversation to show you care can go along way.
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PFC Leonard Burns
the green lightis also a simbol of careing and that i have soupported the vettrens
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Eve Marie
I still turn my green light on every night. You never know when a Vet will need just a little sign that someone cares. And it is only one of the many ways I support Veterans as a civilian. I am the DAV Transportation coordinator and driver for our local DAV Chapter 97. We support 4 counties. I have had Veterans knock on my door to thank me for my show of support. I invite them in. Sometimes my backyard looks like a campground because I offer them a place to stay overnight and a hot meal or 2. I have a large tent setup in my backyard right now and I have Vets that stop by to get time in my pool, just to relax.
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SGT Darryl Dykes
SPC Lou Gillespie. I totally agree with you. I am member of DAV: Disabled American Veterans. We assist Vet's with anything they need from help paying bills, such as utilities and rent buy them groceries get them in contact with organizations to get furniture what ever they need. the veteran does not have to be disabled to be helped, The DAV helps file compensation claims thru the VA at no cost to the veteran. Some lawyers advertise that they can do it for a fee, DAV will go thru all the steps even provide a lawyer at no fee to the veteran if the case needs to go to court. DAV advocates for Vet's in Congress to get laws passed to better lives of veterans. Please any one who reads this pass this info on to needy veterans.
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Was just talking with SSG Carlos Madden about this. People who put up the green lights are doing it to support a national awareness campaign. Our veteran community needs social movements like this to remind the general public that we are out there and need their support in times when the GI Bill and Retirement benefits are being decided on in DC. During this political season, we need as much attention as we can get. I welcome more social movements like this to spread awareness. We also need to go beyond the symbolic gesture, take action, and vote for political leaders who will support the real veteran issues.
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SPC Dave Weaver
I think this is a nice gesture.its helps make more awareness on veteran day.of vets in need,i agree that money from these sale.should go helping homeless vets.but people need to volunteer at the va,veteran homes and with the home bounded vets.even for just a day.is a start but I hope all year round.
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SGT B. Kevin Blair
Never heard of the green bulbs but I will buy one for certain now ? Me and few of my fellow Desert Storm vets honorably wear red shirts on Fridays ,wrist bands and anything to show support to our current serving force,I also say thank you to any vet and I have bought several homeless vets meals and coffee and will continue to
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Capt Brandon Charters
SGT B. Kevin Blair You got it, brother! I think there are so many great ways we can help keep our military family in the front of everyone's mind. We need both action and awareness from our civilian supporters...voting counts as well. Some info I was sharing with Kim today: The more attention we put on veterans issues, the more likely we can get large reform passed and make sweeping changes that will impact millions of veterans. So great to hear about your Friday shirts. Here is a link to the green light movement: http://www.greenlightavet.com/
Supporting America’s veterans
Greenlight A Vet is a movement to establish visible national support for veterans by encouraging people to change one light to green in their homes as a symbol of support and appreciation.
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I think its a nice gesture, but very superficial.
I agree with you, ma'am, that actually helping vets in need is a much more meaningful act. But I think society is unwilling to go that far. And then there is the argument, "well, we should do that for everyone in need!" Of course, this is right, too. Imagine a community that took care of those who were in need! Our veteran brothers and sisters in need would surely benifit from this as well!
I see the green light as the beginning and end of people's comfort zones and willingness to be involved in their community; but it is coming from a good place. I am grateful for what it is, but only give it just a passing, "hey, thanks." which is about all that gesture deserves.
I agree with you, ma'am, that actually helping vets in need is a much more meaningful act. But I think society is unwilling to go that far. And then there is the argument, "well, we should do that for everyone in need!" Of course, this is right, too. Imagine a community that took care of those who were in need! Our veteran brothers and sisters in need would surely benifit from this as well!
I see the green light as the beginning and end of people's comfort zones and willingness to be involved in their community; but it is coming from a good place. I am grateful for what it is, but only give it just a passing, "hey, thanks." which is about all that gesture deserves.
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MSG (Join to see)
SPC Kelly Thomas, I agree, well stated. If communities took care of those in need, we wouldn't need a government, at least not the one we have!
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SGT Frank Phillips
What's wrong with both. Help a Vet and burn the green bulb. Do one better and donate to Gary Sinnis's organization.
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Eve Marie
SGT Frank Phillips - I drive around on Veteran's Day picking up Veteran's and taking them to our local Golden Corral for dinner. Word gets around fairly quickly and sometimes I have to go back to one or two particular locations and pick up the Vets I couldn't fit in my car the first time around. Those are the times when I wish I had a school bus or could afford to rent one. I do my best everyday to help a Vet. Thank you all for your service and commitment to protecting Americans and the USA!
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