What Does A Green Porch Light Mean?

Many of us try to support issues that really mean something to us. For example, we may have a pink ribbon bumper sticker on our automobile to support breast cancer awareness. There are also ribbons of almost every shape and size imaginable and each color has a different meaning.

There is something else that people are doing these days to support a cause, and that is using a green porch light.

If you see this around Christmas or Thanksgiving, you might think that it has something to do with those holidays. Actually, it involves another holiday altogether.

Photo: flickr/Benny Mazur

Walmart started the “Greenlight a Vet Campaign” in 2013 and it has been gaining steam ever since.

As a part of the campaign, jobs were guaranteed for those veterans that were honorably discharged from the US Armed Forces. They took things a step further by encouraging those who lived in the community to use a green porch light in honor of those veterans as well.

Photo: flickr/Benny Mazur

Green is associated with hope and renewal, and they wanted it to be a very positive campaign. They hope that the green light would spark conversation about veterans and how they are valued within the community.

Most green lights will show up on November 11, which is Veterans Day in the United States. Some will also use green lights on St. Patrick’s Day.

Photo: flickr/Mike Lewinski

If you would like to support this holiday, give some consideration to the green light you are using. Lights are rated according to lumens, so the higher the lumen, the brighter the light.

Generally speaking, a green light bulb between 200 and 250 will work well on a porch. If you would like additional light, you can even go up to 700 lm or higher.

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