The Important Reason The Bentleyville Tree Was Lit In Green All Night

Duluth's annual Christmas attraction, the Bentleyville Tour of Lights, is getting ready to open later this month. As preparations are underway, the team doing the decorating and setup will sometimes turn the lights on to make sure everything is working and looking great before they open on November 23.

While it isn't abnormal to see the lights on at Duluth's Bayfront Festival Park before Bentleyville opens, seeing some of the lights on all night long is not a normal thing. They're usually shut off when work is done, and even when the attraction is open, the lights are shut off overnight after it closes.

Last night, I happened to catch a glimpse of the 128-foot tree at the center of Bentleyville all lit up in green at midnight. Again this morning before sunrise, the tree was lit up as I came into work.

As it turns out, the tree was left on and lit in green for a very specific reason, and it isn't just a tease to get people excited about the attraction opening for 2024.

Why was the Bentleyville tree lit up overnight in green?

Tuesday evening, the St. Louis County government's Facebook page shared a post explaining that the tree being lit up in green overnight was done with a very specific and important purpose.

Bentleyville is participating in something called Operation Green Light, which is a nationwide effort related to veterans ahead of Veterans Day.

READ MORE: Big Changes Ahead Of Bentleyville 2024 Visitors, Residents Need To Know About

Organizers for Bentleyville reached out to county officials to volunteer to be part of this cause.

What is Operation Green Light?

As the National Association of Counties explains, it is a cooperative effort between their organization and the National Association of County Veterans Services Officers to show support for veterans by lighting up government buildings and other structures in green in the days before Veterans Day.

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The effort extends from November 4 through November 11 (Veterans Day), using green lights as a symbol of showing veterans they are seen, appreciated, and supported.

Why green?

Officials with St. Louis County explain that green is a color of hope, renewal, and well-being.

Bentleyville is one of a number of green-lit things across the county as part of St. Louis County's effort to "shine a light of appreciation, hope, and support for our veterans" ahead of Veterans Day.