Operation Green Light Honors Veterans In Montgomery County

ROCKVILLE, MD — Veterans Day is Friday, Nov. 11, and Montgomery County has joined the national Operation Green Light salute to veterans, officials said.

The County’s Commission on Veterans Affairs is seeking additions to its virtual tribute to county veterans, a program sponsored by the National Association of Counties to honor those who have made immeasurable sacrifices to preserve freedom. The program asks for displays of a green light, from Nov. 7-13, in a window of businesses or residences to honor veterans.

For the next week, Montgomery County’s Memorial Plaza, located adjacent to the County Executive Building at 101 Monroe St. in Rockville, will be lit with green lights, according to a news release.

The County’s Commission on Veterans Affairs is continuing to pay tribute to local veterans through a virtual “Tribute to Montgomery County Veterans” website. As Veterans Day approaches, the commission wants to add tributes to the site. The website is open to all residents who have served in military service.

From the county tribute site, there is a link to the commission’s Fallen Heroes page.

A veteran can share their story, or someone can share the story of a friend or family member, by filling out the commission’s Google form or filling out its PDF form. Questions can be directed to MCCVA@montgomerycountymd.gov.

The following information is needed on the forms:

• Veteran's name.
• Name of person submitting information and relationship to the individual.
• Branch of service and rank.
• Years of service.
• Era served (WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Global War on Terror or peacetime/other).
• Brief narrative of their service.
• Connection to Montgomery County (where the individual currently lives, grew up, attended high school or college/university, etc.).
• Photos (preferably one during their service and one present day).

By sending an e-mail to be included, the sender agrees to have the information shared on the county's website and in the Commission on Veterans Affairs social media.

To learn more about the Montgomery Commission on Veterans Affairs, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cva.

In addition, there will be Montgomery County veterans’ tributes during the month of November in the display cases at the Rockville Memorial Library and the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza.

Many people confuse Memorial Day in May and Veterans Day in November. Memorial Day honors military personnel who died in service, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds suffered in battle. While those who died are also remembered on Veterans Day, the upcoming holiday is set aside to honor all of those who served honorably in the military — in wartime or peacetime. Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans and acknowledge their contributions to national security, county officials said.