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 […]

Attention all BVA members and dog lovers alike! We have some exciting news that’s sure to bring a smile to your face and a wag to your tail. Donald, one of our very own Ambassadogs featured in a previous month, has made it to the top five finalists in the Service Dog category for the American Humane Society Hero Dog Award! Now, we all know that every one of our Ambassadogs is a hero in […]

Please make 3:00pm Eastern Time next Wednesday, August 13, a priority on your calendar for the next session of BVA’s VetTech and Educational Series via Zoom. The session will feature eSight by Gentex Corporation, a pioneer and leader in wearable assistive technology for vision enhancement. The “eSight Go,” an advanced device for low vision, will be the focus of the presentation and discussion. Join the meeting here or via the link provided in the BVA […]

Practical instruction on navigating alone to, from, and during a national convention as a totally blind person, coupled with inspirational observations and useful guidance unique to host Steve Baskis, highlights the recently released August episode of “Visions of BVA,” the Association’s monthly podcast. Unlike most of his previous episodes, Steve runs solo in this one, offering a practical, experience-based walkthrough of how he travels independently to the Blinded Veterans Association’s national conventions. Drawing on nearly […]

For the second year in a row, the U.S. Army has designated August as Antiterrorism Awareness Month. The designation serves as a vital reminder of the ongoing threats faced by the U.S. Military and the nation in general. According to Jeffrey Varner, Army Materiel Command (AMC) Protection Branch Chief, Antiterroism Month emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to protect military personnel, assets, and missions. It serves, he says, as a dedicated time to raise awareness […]

While blind and low vision veterans from the United States Coast Guard may be fewer in number within the BVA membership than Army, Navy, and Marine veterans, their sacrifice and dedication to defending the nation since 1790 can never be overlooked, especially on National Coast Guard Day, celebrated this Monday. The August 4 observance is more an internal one within the maritime service but still deserves equal reverence and recognition from the veteran community and […]

Next Thursday, August 7, is National Purple Heart Day, also known as Purple Heart Recognition Day and Purple Heart Appreciation Day. Although the observance is a recent one stemming from efforts of the Military Order of the Purple Heart in 2014, the Purple Heart is one of the oldest military decorations. George Washington established the precursor to the Purple Heart, known as the Badge of Military Merit, dating back to 1782. This award was designed […]

Longtime Southern California Regional Group (SCRG) officer Ken Asam has been awarded a Certificate of Appreciation at the annual Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) barbecue of Greater Los Angeles. The July 24 event honored Ken following his service as the SCRG president and paid tribute to his penchant for turning adversity into new opportunities. The Certificate, signed by VIST Coordinators Dunia Lara (Sepulveda) and Lisa Mitchell (Los Angeles and West Los Angeles), reads as follows: […]

VA has announced that a rule will soon be proposed within the Department that would extend eligibility for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) through September 30, 2028, to certain veterans and their family caregivers. PCAFC is part of VA’s broader Caregiver Support Program. It offers enhanced clinical support for family caregivers of eligible veterans who incurred or aggravated a serious injury in the line of duty and who meet other eligibility […]

The final week of July offers opportunities to recognize the value of American veterans on the job and several other milestone dates of significance for them. July 25 and July 27-29 are all recognized for different but important reasons. National Hire A Veteran Day, July 25 – The observance aims to inspire employers to recruit and hire veterans by recognizing the unique skills and values that former Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen bring […]