Honoring and celebrating the United States Military with ceremonies and birthdays has been a longstanding tradition. The birthday of the United States Naval Reserve by Act of Congress on March 3, 1915, is no exception. Each subsequent March 3 is typically observed at various Navy Reserve units, the Reserve Headquarters, and the Navy Memorial in Washington, DC. On April 6, 1917, the name was changed to U.S. Naval Reserve Force and about 8,000 sailors joined […]

Pictured at left, primary advocates behind the announced proposal: Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Paralyzed Veterans of America Executive Director Carl Blake, and BVA Executive Director Don Overton. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Hunt. BVA Executive Director Don Overton and Deputy Director of Government Relations Alek Libbin yesterday attended a White House Convening on Protecting the Safety, Rights, and Dignity of Air Travelers with Disabilities. The invitation to attend originated from BVA’s support […]

Guide dog Tavi sitting and looking at the camera. He is wearing his harness. Four paws up for Jane Flower, Youth Outreach Specialist for Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), who joined the BVA Dog Handlers Group meeting this past Tuesday. Our friend Jane shared information about GDB’s Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Immersion Program for people interested in developing the O&M skills that are most relevant to guide dog mobility.    Traveling independently with a guide […]

BVA’s Veterans Service Program (VSP) is making unprecedented strides and progress in assisting thousands of veterans with sight loss with their VA claims and other needs related to compensation and benefits.    “I’m very proud of the outstanding work and recent successes of our team of Accredited National Service Officers,” said Duayne Driscoll, BVA’s National Service Director. “The quality of their tireless efforts and their total dedication are unique and essentially unmatched anywhere else.”   […]

BVA National President Paul Mimms will present the Association’s legislative priorities for the current fiscal year in a joint session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on Wednesday, March 6. The BVA Government Relations Team has put together a full written document from which Paul will likely draw many of his oral remarks.     The annual hearing convenes at 10:00am Eastern Time in Room SD-G50 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building adjacent […]

The Women Veterans Group (WVG) will meet via Zoom next Thursday, February 22, at 6:00pm Eastern Time.  The theme of the meeting, centered around Black History Month, will feature guest speaker Barbara Lunon, a member of the Arkansas Army National Guard who will discuss Arkansas National Guard African American Pioneers Untold Stories. One lucky attendee will win a copy of the book.   The Blinded Veterans Association is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: […]

Attention BVA Members! Join us for next Thursday’s (February 22) first of several Town Halls as we gear up for this summer’s national convention in Jacksonville, Florida. The meeting, shared via the Zoom platform, will begin at 2:00pm Eastern Time.  What to expect from the first Town Hall:  Overview of the 79th National Convention: Get all the important details about dates, events, and registration. Ask Your Questions: Have your questions answered by BVA staff in the process of negotiating and […]