Green light giveaways will help salute veterans

Veterans Day is right around the corner, and folks at the Bibb County Courthouse have a plan in mind to salute the men and women who have served.

The Macon Judicial Circuit’s Veterans Court will begin handing out green light bulbs Nov. 1 in hopes that residents will use them outdoors to show support for veterans.

Green, compact florescent bulbs will be given away weekdays on the Mulberry Street side of the Bibb County Courthouse from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2-4 p.m. until Nov. 10, said Kathy Smith, coordinator of Veterans Court. A grant paid for the 1,000 bulbs that will be given out while supplies last.

“It’s a nice way as we approach Nov. 11 to remember what our veterans have done for us,” said Tripp Self, the circuit’s chief judge and the judge who presides over Veterans Court.

The court links veterans charged with crimes with programs offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, treating underlying issues that may have caused them to run afoul of the law.

Veterans accused of crimes in Bibb, Crawford and Peach counties are eligible for participation in the court if they’re eligible for VA benefits, have served in the military, have a treatable issue and a crime that qualifies for the program.

The effort is part of the Greenlight a Vet program, an initiative that began in 2015 as a grass-roots gesture to recognize veterans, said Blair Cromwell, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, a supporter of the program. Greenlight a Vet has grown to include participation in many states across the country.

It’s a simple way to say thank you, Cromwell said.

In the weeks leading up to Veterans Day, green light bulbs also will be stocked in many stores, she said.

This story was originally published October 21, 2016 at 4:03 PM with the headline "Green light giveaways will help salute veterans."