To better support outside organizations working with at-risk veterans, VA launched the Mission Daybreak grand challenge in 2022 to award $20 million to groups pursuing innovative solutions to the veteran suicide crisis. According to Dr. Amanda Lienau, Director of Data and Analytics Innovation for VA, the challenge evolved out of the President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) Task Force, created by the Trump Administration in 2019 to take […]

The American Medical Association has recognized seven VA health care facilities for their work to reduce physician burnout, VA announced earlier this week. They are: The Boston Health Care System, the Central Virginia VA Health Care System, the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, the Phoenix VA Health Care System, the VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, and the Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System. AMA’s Joy in […]

David Jones, BVA member and Ambassador from Ooltewah, Tennessee, has offered to share his passion and ability to play the harmonica with any interested BVA member. The lessons can be conducted via Facetime calls or by telephone. According to David, possessing sight is not necessary for successfully playing the harmonica, which consists of four basic holes that can produce eight different sounds. David plays in memory of his father and for his brothers, the latter […]

VA awarded more than $77 million in grants during Fiscal Year 2025 for the expansion and improvement of 20 state veterans cemeteries throughout the nation and one establishment grant for Alaska’s first state veterans cemetery. VA’s National Cemetery Administration reimburses states for the cost of building, improving, or expanding state-run veteran cemeteries. Later, state grants typically fund the construction of pre-placed crypts, columbaria, and improvements required to continue interments and operations. Using the button below, […]

More than 5,600 locations nationwide participated in this year’s Wreaths Across America on December 13. Thousands of Americans descended on cemeteries throughout the country to assist in the laying of holiday wreaths at the grave markers of the nation’s veterans. The cleanup of the wreaths is a work-in-progress that continues in many of the nation’s cemeteries. Among the willing and able participants in the laying of the wreaths at the Alexandria National Cemetery was the […]

David Jones, BVA member and Ambassador from Ooltewah, Tennessee, has offered to share his passion and ability to play the harmonica with any interested BVA member. The lessons can be conducted via Facetime calls or by telephone. According to David, possessing sight is not a requirement for playing the harmonica, which consists of four basic holes that can produce eight different sounds. David plays in memory of his father and for his brothers, the latter […]

The most recent audio episode of Visions of BVA, released on January 1, is now live and accessible on all major platforms, most notably the Association’s YouTube channel, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Featured this month is the audio version of the Autumn 2025 BVA Bulletin, the most recent issue of the quarterly publication produced by and for blind and low vision veterans and their families. Host and producer Steve Baskis has converted a written script […]

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 […]