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USA TODAY
San Bernardino County officials will green light certain county buildings in support of veterans.
County supervisors approved a resolution earlier this month declaring Nov. 4 through 11 Operation Green Light for veterans.
The operation is a national effort to raise awareness about the challenges veterans face and the resources available at the county, state and federal levels to help veterans and their families, county officials said.
Operation Green Light is led by the National Association of Counties and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers. In 2023, over 300 counties participated in Operation Green Light.
In advance of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, San Bernardino County will illuminate government buildings on behalf of the following services:
- Office of Veterans Affairs, 222 Hospitality Ln., San Bernardino
- Veterans Affairs at the High Desert Government Center, 15900 Smoke Tree St., Hesperia
- Chairman and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe’s office at the Bob Burke Government Center, 63665 29 Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree
- Vice President and First District Supervisor Office of Col. Paul Cook (Ret.), 14955 Dale Evans Pkwy., Apple Valley
- Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez’s office, 8575 Haven Ave., Rancho Cucamonga
- Fourth District Supervisor Curt Hagman’s office, 14010 City Center Drive, Chino Hills
- Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.’s office at the San Bernardino County Government Center, 385 N. Arrowhead Ave., San Bernardino
Now in its third year, Operation Green Light is expected to attract hundreds of counties to participate.
The San Bernardino County Office of Veterans Affairs has assisted veterans and their family members with access to numerous benefits and services such as health care, education and more than $57 million in cash benefits in the last year alone.
“We are honored to join this nationwide effort to shine a light on the struggles our veterans face and the opportunity to show them we support and appreciate the sacrifices they make,” said Supervisor Dawn Rowe.
In addition to lighting up county buildings, bridges and other significant landmarks, residents, businesses and other organizations are encouraged to participate by simply replacing a light bulb inside or outside their home with a green bulb.
Established in 1926 as the first county veterans office in California, San Bernardino County Veterans Affairs serves the needs of veterans and their families in obtaining benefits from federal, state and local agencies.
Some of the benefits that Veterans Affairs can help veterans receive include:
- Service-connected and non-service-connected disability benefits and pensions
- Education benefits, such as the California College Fee Waiver Program
- Professional training
- Veterans ID cards
- Veteran designations on DMV driver’s license or identification cards
- Employment and job search resources
- Agent Orange programs and more
For additional information about benefits and locations of Veterans Affairs offices in San Bernardino County, visit va.sbcounty.gov.
Counties and residents across the country are sharing their participation on social media using the hashtag #OperationGreenLight. For more information about Operation Green Light, visit naco.org/program/operation-green-light-veterans.