What Does It Mean If You See A Green Porch Light?

Have you ever driven past a house and seen a green porch light? At first it might just seem like an aesthetic choice or maybe a seasonal decoration, but it actually has a much deeper meaning, one that might surprise you if you’ve ever stumbled across one of these in your neighborhood.

What Does It Mean?

A green light on someone’s porch is often a sign of support for a cause that deserves real recognition: the Greenlight a Vet campaign. This movement, launched by the U.S. Army Reserves, is meant to show appreciation for the veterans in our communities.

Greenlight a Vet is about visibility in particular, with the Reserves describing it as “visible national support for our veterans.” The green light is meant to remind us that veterans live among us every day, often without recognition. This campaign encourages people to literally “shine a light” on veterans by switching a porch bulb to green and sparking conversations about and support for U.S. veterans, a reminder that service doesn’t simply end when a uniform is folded away.

A porch light with a green bulb in it.
Photo Credit: VA News

Why Green?

The Army Reserves explain the use of green in particular, saying that “green is the color of hope, renewal and well-being. ‘Greenlight’ is also a term commonly used to activate forward movement.” The idea is to combat the trend of people simply forgetting about veterans when they return home. “[…] the simple action of changing one light to green is intended to spark a national conversation regarding the recognition of veterans.”

A row of townhomes, all with green lights on their porch.
Photo Credit: Yahoo!

How You Can Take Part

Joining the campaign is simple and doesn’t take much. You can pick up a green bulb at most hardware stores or online, screw it into your front porch fixture, and leave it lit. That’s it. It costs just a few dollars, but the message it sends is worth far more. If you know a veteran, let them know why you made the change, but if you don’t, the light still does the talking. And the more people take part, the more visible our collective support becomes. It’s a small effort that carries a big heart behind it.

A porch light with a green bulb in it.
Photo Credit: Storables

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A green porch light might not change the world, but it can change the way someone feels walking past your home. It can help a veteran feel remembered, it can lead to a conversation that otherwise wouldn’t happen, and these small things matter. The Greenlight a Vet campaign is proof that even small actions can carry a lot of weight. So if you see a green light, now you know what it means, and how to join in yourself!