Routt County Commissioners signed onto Operation Green Light Tuesday to recognize veterans and their families by illuminating the county courthouse lawn to let veterans know that they are seen, appreciated and supported.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to join the effort by displaying green lights in their windows to show solidarity and gratitude from Nov. 4-11. The recognition is part of a broader effort encouraged by the National Association of Counties that aims to raise awareness and foster community support for veterans across the country.

“When I came home, I didn’t get involved in Veterans Day events very much,” said Jim Stanko, who served in the U.S. Army from 1970-1972. “It wasn’t a big deal, you know, the VFW had a breakfast that morning for the veterans, and then that evening they usually had a dinner —  and that was Veterans Day.”

Stanko, an adjutant for American Legion Posts 44 and VFW Post #4264, said Operation Green Light is just one way communities in Routt County will honor those who served in the armed forces on Veterans Day.

These days, Stanko is very involved with Veterans Day and is thrilled to see that the community he calls home coming together to honor those who served.

“I can’t remember the year now, but sometime in the early, or mid-1990s there was a music teacher at Soda Creek Elementary who called me and said she wanted to do a program for veterans … I think I was able to get seven veterans to go to her program that first time, and it sparked something.”

This year, four schools in Routt County will host Veterans Day programs in Routt County: The Old Town Hot Springs will offer free admission for veterans Nov. 9-11 and all three schools, along with the North Routt Charter School, are putting on programs. Additionally, several restaurants are offering meals to veterans.

“The community is now giving back and getting involved and that’s what’s exciting to me,” Stanko said.

On Monday, Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. veterans will gather for an event highlighted by a presentation from the Delectable Mountains Quilt Guild where they will award quilts and a reception with refreshments.

On Tuesday, the pace will pick up as Strawberry Park and Soda Creek elementary schools host programs honoring veterans. At 8:35 a.m., Strawberry Park will host the first program of the day, which will be followed with an invite for veterans to visit the school. The program at Soda Creek will commence at 10:45 a.m.

The day will conclude at 1:30 p.m. with an inaugural event at the North Routt Charter School where veterans will speak to students from kindergarten to eighth grade with topics including what Veterans Day means to them. Students are planning to line up at the entrance of the school with American flags and will assemble care packages for various currently serving military members for Thanksgiving.

The busy week will come to an end at 10 a.m. Wednesday with the final school program held at Sleeping Giant School. Veterans and guest are asked to show up 15-20 minutes early for the school programs.

Like the number of programs, the number of veterans attending this program has also grown over the years with between 20-30 veterans showing up for the programs at Soda Creek and Strawberry Park elementary schools last year, Stanko said.

“I’m happy that we’ve got so many events to go to that we probably aren’t going to get everybody at every event,” Stanko said. “I would like you to emphasize that the school programs are not just for members of the American Legion or VFW. It’s for the public. People that have even just had a relative that was in the service should come to one of these programs just to honor their relatives.”