BVA’s Gary Schoerlerman, Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group, asserts that celebrating the holiday season in southern Louisiana requires partaking in a good, spicy Gumbo. Nothing else will do, he said. On December 13, for the third year in a row, the regional group did just that, courtesy of Noah’s Café in the City of Lafayette, Louisiana. The holiday season only got better from there with a couple of additional Braille flag presentations and a special ceremony honoring […]

BVA’s District 1 will host a “District One Weekend” in Hampton Roads, Virginia, from 12:00pm (noon) on Friday, April 17, until 12:00pm on Sunday, April 19, Director of District 1 John O’Connell has announced. Family members and caregivers are encouraged to attend with their veterans. Although this announcement will be the only one visible to at-large members who reside within District 1, all at-large members who do not belong to a regional group are encouraged […]

Happy New Year Greetings from Lea Rowe, Interim Executive Director We appreciate your patience during December as we navigated several logistical hurdles. A combination of the government shutdown, holiday schedules, and external web server outages prevented us from sending our regular updates. Despite these challenges, our team adapted quickly, using alternative formats such as the December 19 BVA Happenings to keep information flowing. While the shutdown temporarily restricted some Veteran Service Officers’ access to VA […]

It came all too quickly for some, but the transition into the New Year by BVA members, their families, and caregivers is now complete! As such, the Association’s National Board of Directors and National Headquarters are honored to send best wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year as the nation simultaneously kicks off its 250th birthday celebrations. We express sincere gratitude to all in the BVA community for your service to both the organization […]

Even the most wonderful time of the year can be stressful and emotionally complicated. That’s because December is a demanding month for many, and veterans and VA employees are no exception. Fortunately, there is an answer for the holiday blues: self-compassion.   The art of self-compassion is all about being considerate, connecting with others, and adopting an attitude of self-kindness rather than judgment. This kind of mindful awareness is often the best gift we can give […]

More than 5,600 locations nationwide will participate in this year’s Wreaths Across America on Saturday, December 13. Thousands of Americans will descend on cemeteries throughout the country to assist in the laying of holiday wreaths at the grave markers of the nation’s veterans.  The purpose of Wreaths of America is three-fold: First, to remember individual veterans among the millions who rest in honored glory. Second, to openly honor them by providing volunteer opportunities for those […]

Immersive Technology is any technology that extends reality or creates a new reality by leveraging the 360-degree space. Because Immersive Technology leverages that sphere, users can look in any direction and see content. VA is embracing Immersive Technology as it transforms how veterans experience care and offers innovative tools that improve access, engagement, and health outcomes.  Some types of Immersive Technology extend reality by overlaying digital images on a user’s environment. Others create a new […]

On the morning of December 7, 1941, a Sunday morning not unlike this upcoming Sunday, the course of American history changed forever. The Japanese military descended on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, destroying battleships, aircraft, and facilities during the shocking attack 84 years ago that eventually led to the post-war creation of the Blinded Veterans Association and similar organizations that still today serve as advocates for veterans. The events are recalled this […]

The House of Representatives, Senate, and President have now all acted on S. 2392, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2025, sponsored originally by Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS). The measure passed both the House and Senate chambers and was signed by President Donald Trump on November 25. This year’s COLA kicks in additional compensation for inflation for wartime disability, dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and […]

Throughout November, BVA Happenings has highlighted “Signing in the Dark: How Blind and Visually Impaired People Can Digitally Sign Documents with Apple Previewer, TeamViewer, and Aira.” In this unique Visions of BVA episode, podcast host Steve Baskis demonstrates how blind and visually impaired individuals can sign otherwise inaccessible digital documents using these three technologies. “This is not a full tutorial but an introduction to the concept of signing,” Steve has said in describing the program. […]