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BVA Recognizes Critical Role of Physician Assistants

National Physician Assistant Week, recently completed last week, occurs every year in October. Treating patients in today’s complex health care settings requires a complete team of professionals. Among these medical workers are Physician Assistants (PA’s), broadly trained in a wide spectrum of conditions and tasks. Low vision member, Michelle O’Connor of Fredericksburg, Virginia, joins BVA Past National President Dr. Tom Zampieri as a professional in the field. Michelle currently works as a PA at Fort […]

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Killion Educates Fellow Lone Star Veterans on White Cane History and Use   

Jerry Killion, longtime BVA member and leader in the Greater Houston Regional Group, spent the evening of White Cane Safety Day presenting the history of the White Cane to his American Legion Post 512 in Dayton, Texas. The day this year just happened to fall on the third Tuesday of the month when the Post regularly meets.  In addition to several leadership positions that he has held with the BVA Greater Houston Regional Group, Jerry […]

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Overton Appears on Withum’s Civic Warriors Podcast

Blinded Veterans Association National Executive Director Donald D. Overton, Jr. was the guest on the most recent podcast of Civic Warriors, a series produced by the 50-year-old Withum firm. The podcast series invites leaders in the nonprofit industry affecting change; civic warriors of the world—innovators, leaders on the front lines of adversity, and all-around good people doing good deeds. In the 54-minute Episode 65, Don shares first his personal journey and his insights into BVA’s […]

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Adaptive Sports Grants a Possible Boon to Blind and Low Vision Veterans

BVA members who have recently demonstrated interest in adaptive and recreational rehabilitative sports will be pleased to learn of VA’s announcement last week to award $15.9 million in grants to fund such activities. An October 1 news release revealed the awarding of the funds, which will go toward adaptive sports, recreational activities, and equine therapy for veterans and service members living with disabilities. The grants will be awarded to 91 national, regional, and community-based programs […]

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Autumn and Fall: Is There Any Difference?

Three weeks ago, the Northern Hemisphere welcomed both Autumn and Fall. Both words refer, in general, to the more moderate season that follows the heat of the summer and preceeds the cold of winter. Although the terminology is used interchangeably now, such has not always been the case. There was a difference in their original meanings. “Fall” is about leaves descending from trees. The term originated in the 1600s as a shorter way to say […]

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Recognizing Columbus Day and Indigenous People’s Day

Observance of Columbus Day in the United States began in 1937 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 to be a holiday to commemorate the landing of Christopher Columbus on the American continent, recorded on that day in 1492. The holiday came about as a result of intense lobbying by the Knights of Columbus, an influential Catholic fraternal organization. Since 1971, the holiday has been observed on the second Monday in October Indigenous People’s […]

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With Navy “Semi-Quincentennial” Approaching, 249th Birthday Still Not Forgotten

Happy 249th Birthday, United States Navy and a shoutout to Navy veterans of BVA! Although the more majestic milestone of 250 (Semi-Quin Centennial, half of 500) arrives one year from now, the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command is not about to let the 249th pass by unnoticed! With the theme “Warfighting Strength and Readiness, this year’s commemoration will highlight, with a celebratory and commemorative tone, the Navy’s focus through a warfighting lens to deliver […]

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BVA’s Eugene Baltes to Celebrate Amazing Birthday 110!

U.S. Navy World War II veteran Eugene “Gene” J. Baltes, a member of the Illinois Regional Group, was already the oldest known living male in the United States following the passing of 110-year-old Vincent Dransfield of New Jersey this past June. Later this month, Gene will celebrate with family, friends, and a few fellow veterans his own milestone of 110 years. A resident of River Forest, Illinois, Gene began his military career voluntarily in November […]

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Celebrating White Canes while Increasing Awareness

BVA regional groups and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Blind Rehabilitation Service (BRS) support groups traditionally commemorate the significance of white cane safety through pre-planned public events such as group walks, fairs, exhibits, or educational forums at VA facilities. Thanks to motivated BVA members and VA Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) Coordinators, productive activities are scheduled in various parts of the country throughout the month of October but especially on October 15. President Lyndon B. […]

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Campaign Launched Nationally to Fight Claims Predators

The Veterans Benefits Administration has initiated a long-term effort to address the invasion of “claims predators” into the lives of America’s veterans. Last week’s BVA Happenings defined claims predators as “bad actors” that attempt to unlawfully charge veterans a fee to “help” them process their claims with VA when it is provided free by VA accredited attorneys, claims agents, or National Service Officers working in the BVA Veterans Service Program. Aggressive communication techniques, accompanied by […]