Please join the Dog Handlers Interest Group meeting next Tuesday, August 19, at 4:00pm via Zoom as attendees welcome Greg Steinmetz, Senior Manager of Admissions and Graduate Services at Guide Dogs of America |Tender Loving Canines (GDA|TLC). Greg oversees the intake process for prospective guide dog handlers and offers ongoing support to graduated guide dog teams. All past, present, and prospective dog handlers are invited to the meeting. The Guide Dog Handlers Interest Group meets […]

Falling annually on August 16, and this year on a Saturday, is National Airborne Day, a day to honor the military’s airborne divisions of the Armed Forces. Just two weeks ago, Senate Resolution 361 designated August 16, 2025, as National Airborne Day. On August 16, 1940, the first official Army parachute jump occurred at Fort Benning, Georgia, with 48 volunteer members of the U.S. Army Parachute Test Platoon participating. The successful jump validated the innovative […]

Last Saturday, the streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter were transformed into a vibrant river of red as more than 4,000 participants took part in the annual New Orleans Hash House Harriers Red Dress Run. The lively tradition—equal parts charity fundraiser, fun run, and costume party—saw men and women alike wear bright red dresses, turning the city into a spectacle of color and camaraderie. The Harriers self-describe as a “local drinking club with a running […]

Practical instruction on navigating alone to, from, and during a national convention as a totally blind person, coupled with inspirational observations and helpful guidance unique to program host Steve Baskis, highlight the August episode of “Visions of BVA,” the Association’s monthly podcast. Unlike most of his other recent episodes, Steve has chosen to go solo in this one, offering an experience-based walkthrough of how he travels independently to the Blinded Veterans Association’s national conventions. Drawing […]

Blind and low vision veterans may now begin the application process to participate in the 40th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass, Colorado (near Aspen), April 4-11. Although the application deadline is November 30, BVA recommends completing and submitting the application and supporting materials as soon as possible. A world leader in rehabilitation, the Winter Sports Clinic began with 90 participants in 1987 and now provides nearly 400 profoundly disabled Veterans with training […]

The BVA National Board of Directors has approved a new benefit to the membership via the Team BVA initiative, providing up to $500 per calendar year to assist with travel or lodging costs to attend one of the six VA National Adaptive Sports and Arts Clinics. This reimbursement is designed to help BVA members access these valuable events that promote health, wellness, and camaraderie through adaptive sports (see information below about the Winter Sports Clinic). […]

The BVA National Board of Directors, National Headquarters, and Association members throughout the country were saddened to learn of the passing of Elizabeth “Liz” Holmes of Midland, Georgia, this past Tuesday, August 12. A dedicated BVA member and leader in both the Georgia Regional Group and nationally, Liz was foremost a friend to all—with perhaps the highest priority reserved for her fellow blinded veterans! She was a shining light wherever she saw fit to offer […]

Agent Orange Awareness Day, recognized annually on August 10, honors the bravery and sacrifices of those who have been affected by the chemical. The day falls on Sunday this year. It is also an opportunity to educate the public about the ongoing, diverse health challenges faced by these individuals and to advocate for better support and recognition. VA provides compensation for veterans exposed to Agent Orange. These benefits are crucial for supporting the health and […]

Through September 30, 2025, VA and dozens of partnering organizations are hosting dedicated outreach surge events in real time within every VA health care system in the United States. The objective is to move more than 20,000 veterans into permanent housing. During these events, veterans are approached wherever they are—in encampments, on the streets, in the woods, under bridges—to offer them immediate enrollment in using programs, health care, behavioral health services, and VA benefits. Dedicated […]

During the past three years, BVA Happenings has recognized the birthdays of all the branches of the military and, where appropriate, even some of their auxiliary organizations. On Sunday, the recognition goes to the cabinet-level department that oversees each of these branches. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) was established on August 10, 1949. Although the federal government has overseen the U.S. Armed Forces since our nation’s inception, the Department of Defense name and centralized […]