BVA members from the Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group and supporters from both Illinois and North Carolina are once again anticipating the August New Orleans Hash House Harriers’ (NOH3) Red Dress Run as a means of raising funds for the presentation of Braille Flags at the Louisiana State Library in Baton Rouge, the South Regional Library in Lafayette, and the libraries in St. Charles Parish and Vermillion Parish. Every year on the second Saturday in August, NOH3 […]

The sights and sounds of the Blinded Veterans Association’s 80th National Convention will doubtless remain in the hearts and minds of those associated with the historic gathering, hopefully for months and years to come. For BVA members and their families unable to make it to Dallas this year, BVA Happenings offers a sequel to last week’s convention recap with some additional images. Tracy Ferro offers point of emphasis at convention Opening Business Meeting. BVA Executive […]

Since 1944, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans have helped generations of veterans and service members build stronger financial futures. As part of its mission to serve them, VA Loan Guaranty Service helps veterans buy, build, repair, retain, or adapt a home for their personal occupancy. The VA home purchase loan offers several advantages for veterans: In most cases, no or limited down payment required by VA (lenders require a down payment in […]

The month of June brought Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, and today, June 27, is PTSD Awareness Day. PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-altering event. The attention afforded to PTSD in June brings the issue to the forefront and increases public understanding about a mental health condition that affects more than 13 million people in the United States. In June 2024, the staff at the Connections Wellness Group in the Dallas […]

The Honorable Douglas A. Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, will address blind and low vision veterans and their families at the Association’s 80th National Convention Opening Ceremony on Monday, July 7, at 8:00am. The Opening Ceremony, scheduled for Cumberland K&L (Exhibition Level) at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, is open to all convention attendees and the general public. On February 5, Senate lawmakers voted to confirm Collins as the first ever post-9/11 veteran to serve as […]

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary celebrates its 86th birthday this Monday, June 23. Strange and unnecessary as it may seem, the Coast Guard has both a Reserve as well as an Auxiliary component. While BVA and other Veterans Service Organizations have supportive Auxiliary organizations, the functions of the Coast Guard Auxiliary are different. Duties include those similar to or in support of the regular Coast Guard, but these functions also promote and support general maritime […]

Today, June 20, marks the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in 2025 and the astronomical start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Despite the enjoyment that can come from warm summer weather—vacations, picnics, holiday parades, swimming, etc., our eyes are particularly vulnerable during this time of year, regardless of the extent of our remaining vision. The Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington, DC, offers a few practical tips to keep our […]

Together with more than 50 other Military and Veterans Service Organizations, BVA continues to carefully monitor the progress of the Major Richard Star Act, proposed bipartisan legislation to provide combat-injured veteran retirees with their full benefits. S. 1032, introduced in the 119th Congress by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), now has 76 bipartisan co-sponsors. The House companion version of the bill, introduced by Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25), now has 280 co-sponsors. At […]

VA announced last week that its Health and Benefits mobile application has achieved more than 3 million downloads since its launch in 2021. The app, which has 1.4 million active users, provides veterans with access to a variety of VA health care and benefits information directly from their mobile phones. The information available is among the most commonly sought and needed by veterans on a regular basis. The app helps veterans to do the following: Refill and […]

The work of the Office of Women’s Health of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) reflects the growth in the number of women who have served in the military and are subsequently eligible for VA benefits. Today, women make up 17.5 percent of the veterans who have served on active duty, while 21.6 percent of the veterans who have served in the National Guard/Reserves are women. The total number of women veteran VHA users nationwide has […]