The Normandy landings and associated airborne operations on June 6, 1944, constituted the Allied invasion of Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II. The invasion was codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day after the military term used. The Normandy invasion was the largest seaborne invasion in history, beginning the liberation of France and the rest of Western Europe. D-Day laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the western front and created […]

Memorial Day 2025 brought members of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) throughout the country to a remembrance of the heroism of those who made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in defense of the nation’s freedoms and way of life. Many paid their respects privately while others participated in public events near the Nation’s Capital and in the Deep South. At Arlington National Cemetery, only seven miles from BVA National Headquarters, National President Paul Mimms […]

VA earlier this week announced changes that will make it easier for VA-enrolled veterans to access health care from non-VA providers at the Department’s expense. In 2019, the MISSION ACT allowed such an opportunity when veterans met at least one of six conditions—but only when the decision was in the best medical interest of the veteran as determined by a second VA doctor. Implementation of the recently passed Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare […]

The Valor Games Southeast (VGSE) is a premier adaptive sports competition dedicated to empowering veterans and service members with disabilities through the transformative power of sport. This year, seven BVA members from the eastern half of the United States—Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia—participated in the event. Hosted by the North Carolina nonprofit Bridge II Sports, the 2025 edition marks the 13th year of the impactful event, held Monday-Thursday of this week […]

Monday of this week (May 19) marked a pivotal moment for our nation’s blinded veterans as H.R. 1147, the Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act of 2025 introduced by Representative David Valadao (R-CA-22) earlier this year, successfully passed the House of Representatives. This bipartisan triumph is a testament to the dedication of advocates and legislators who understand the unique challenges faced by those who have lost their sight in service to our country. Passage in the […]

Memorial Day is now upon us. The Blinded Veterans Association recalls and celebrates the ultimate sacrifice by men and women who have been willing to lay down their lives in the name of freedom and peace. The nature of those sacrifices, and the lifelong impact they have had on families of the fallen, is perhaps incomprehensible to those who have never experienced such a loss. As leaders, staff, and members of BVA, we express our […]

The Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) is a health care benefits plan for veterans’ beneficiaries (spouse, surviving spouse, under age 18 dependents, those over 18 who are in school) who meet certain criteria. Eligibility depends on one of the following criteria: 1) The individual must be a spouse or a dependent child of a veteran who has been totally and permanently disabled from a service-connected disability, or 2) […]

Armed Forces Day, falling tomorrow (May 17), will see celebrations of all six branches of the U.S. Military: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force. The day is now always recognized as the third Saturday in May and honors all currently serving or who have served in the Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserve components. Originally, there were single day celebrations for the Army, Navy and Air Force. This […]