Both the United States Navy Reserves and the Navy Seabees celebrate their birthdays next week. The reserve branch of the Navy got its formal start on March 3, 1915, when it was known as the Federal Naval Reserve. This would last until 1916 when the Reserve was reorganized and re-christened the United States Naval Reserve Force. At the start of World War I, approximately 8,000 reserve members served, but by war’s end those numbers had […]

March is Women’s History Month, commemorating and encouraging the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. Since 1995, U.S. Presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month” although the annual celebration had its beginnings in 1981 with an original Women’s History Week Perhaps no better example exists of the contributions made and the glass ceilings broken by women in recent […]

Next week is National Consumer Protection Week, also known as NCPW. Each year during NCPW, government and nonprofit partners highlight information and resources that empower consumers to avoid scams and decrease their chances of becoming victims of fraud. The Federal Communications Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) will host a webinar on Wednesday, March 5, from 2:00-3:00pm Eastern Time highlighting unwanted call protection resources and information about common phone-based scams. BVA members and their […]

The January 31 issue of BVA Happenings announced the rejuvenating BVA Auxiliary (BVAA) annual scholarship program benefitting spouses and generational children (child, grandchild, great-grandchild) of current or deceased BVA members. Eligible students are urged to apply now to meet the May 1 submission deadline. Applications are available via the dropdown menu under “Resources” on the Auxiliary page at BVA.org Effective for semesters during 2025-26, two $2,000 Feldman awards and one valued at $1,500 are open […]

Earlier this month, Meta’s European Union Innovation Day 2025 brought together policymakers, technology leaders, and businesses for a series of panel discussions and product demonstrations in Brussels, Belgium. Representing BVA and the disability community on several levels internationally was BVA National Executive Director Donald D. Overton, Jr. Don was part of a panel discussion entitled “Right to Access: Shaping Policies to Unlock Assistive Technology in Europe,” where he addressed the potential of Artificial Intelligence for […]

Saturday, March 1 marks the beginning of Disability Awareness month. President Ronald Reagan was the first to recognize March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The purpose, he first proclaimed in 1987, was to increase “public awareness of the needs and the potential of Americans with disabilities” and to provide the “encouragement and opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.” The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has included vision loss […]

BVA National Headquarters continues to accept applications for the 2025-26 Sue Cantrell Scholarship awards from spouses, children, and grandchildren of BVA members. The scholarships assist family members with their higher education tuition needs. Information and application materials for the four $2,500 scholarships were launched on the Scholarship Page of the BVA website in mid-December and will remain until the April 30, 2025 submission deadline. The scholarships are awarded on merit through an application process evaluated […]

Approximately 100,000 veterans visit one of 171 VA Medical Centers every single day, VA statistics reveal. National Salute to Veteran Patients Week, held this past week (February 9-15) in 2025, is one of the means by which VA honors and pays tribute to the brave military veterans who receive medical care at VA medical facilities. The designation is usually the week on which Valentine’s Day falls. Formerly known as Help Hospitalized Veterans Week, National Salute […]

The U.S. Coast Guard Reserve will observe its 84th birthday this Wednesday, February 19. While a handful of other important events and early beginnings led up to the official founding, February 19 remains the date to celebrate. On June 23, 1939, Congress gave the Coast Guard Reserve a legislative mandate to use civilians. This was done to promote safety on the high seas and the nation’s navigable waters. The Coast Guard Reserve personnel were non-military […]

George Washington’s birthday was celebrated on February 22 until well into the 20th Century. However, in 1968 Congress passed the Monday Holiday Law to provide uniform annual observances of certain legal public holidays on Mondays. By creating more three-day weekends, Congress hoped to “bring substantial benefits to both the spiritual and economic life of the Nation.” One such day was President’s Day which, technically and officially, remains George Washington’s Birthday holiday. The U.S. National Archives […]