Life can be a struggle for many of the millions of military veterans transitioning back to civilian life after having served overseas. Their experiences in combat can change them forever, as is the case with Lourdes Gonzalez, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq.
When she returned home she was told she had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and she realized she wasn’t the same person she was before she left. Since returning home, she realized that although people wanted to say thanks, they didn’t always know how until she saw green lights appearing in peoples’ doorways.
What does the green light mean? It’s part of the Greenlight A Vet initiative. People place a green light in their home (say on their porch or in a window) so that it’s visible from the outside. The simple gesture is meant to communicate to veterans your support and appreciation for their service.
“A lot of people don’t know how to say thank you, a lot of people don’t know how to show that they care,” Lourdes says. “So having something as simple and unique as a green lightbulb is amazing because it says, ‘I care. I may not know how to say it, but I care.'”
The project is sponsored by Wal-Mart and given the name “Greenlight” because it is a term used to initiate forward movement.
Watch the video below to find out more about the program and Lourdes’ personal story. And don’t forget to share it with your friends!
The green lights reminds me a bit of the purple parking spots, which you can read more about here.
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