Montgomery County is taking its message of support for military veterans onto the streets with a specially wrapped Ride On bus. It is designed to raise awareness about veterans’ services, suicide prevention and the challenges many former service members face.
The initiative, part of the national Operation Green Light campaign, features a bus illuminated with a green light and wrapped to recognize veterans’ service. The 30-foot vehicle will rotate among the county’s three transit depots throughout the month to reach as many residents as possible.
County officials say the effort is about more than honoring veterans. It is also intended to help connect them with resources they may not know are available.
“It’s got the green light on the side of the bus, and it’s to recognize veterans and what they do, and also provide access to the resources they may need to get help if they need it,” said Phil McLaughlin, general manager of the county’s Division of Transit Services.
A QR code inside the bus directs passengers to a veterans’ website with links to services and assistance based on their needs.
For the Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs, improving access to information is a central part of its mission.
Chris Thomas, the commission’s vice chair, explained the bus’s mission, “The bus right now will serve as a reminder, going around the county to the veterans, to their families and all county residents and people who live here and use our transportation of the sacrifices made by our veterans, but also the services available to them.
Operation Green Light also seeks to raise awareness about veterans’ suicide prevention. Thomas said the initiative comes at a time when suicide is a major concern for veterans and their families.
Communication remains one of the biggest challenges in reaching people who qualify for assistance.
“People say, I don’t know where to turn. I have this issue, that issue, and that’s probably the main discussion,” councilmember Sidney Katz said, describing the concerns residents bring to local offices.
The message to veterans, Katz said, should extend beyond Veterans Day.
“Thank you for your service. People say it all the time and people mean it, but it almost becomes, “Hi, how are you? We all need to rededicate ourselves to, to let them know that they’re very, very special people for all of us in Montgomery County and beyond.”
