Limited space in last week’s edition prevented BVA Happenings from including some of the most important and relevant images capturing the day’s events. This week’s issue looks back in pictures at some of those events.   VA Secretary Doug Collins, left, with BVA National President Wade Davis. Secretary Collins with Interim National Executive Director Lea Rowe The U.S. Army Band and Chorus provided the prelude music and several numbers for the ceremonial portion of the 72nd […]

BVA member, master speaker and writer, and Visions of BVA podcast host Steve Baskis left his Colorado home last week to spend a few days in Green Bay, Wisconsin, invited by close friend and river running colleague Ken Braband, the latter of whom co-founded the Milwaukee Team River Runner (TRR) chapter in 2011 and three years later formed a TRR chapter in Green Bay. TRR has hosted blinded veterans on kayaking activities throughout the country […]

Current BVA National Sergeant-At-Arms Brian O’Connell, a graduate of Norwich University, is spotlighted in the Fall edition of the Norwich Record, his alma mater’s alumni magazine. Flying Blind: From B-52s to the Classroom by Zack Bennett details Brian’s career as a U.S. Air Force navigator, academic instructor, flight instructor, squadron commander, and several other positions of major responsibility.   The article also traces Brian’s progressive but gradual loss of sight, multiple retirements, new connections to important […]

The Marine Corps celebrated its 250th birthday this past Monday with numerous events, including a major celebration in Philadelphia featuring historical reenactments, parades, and the one hundredth Marine Corps Birthday Ball in the Grand Ballroom of the City of Brotherly Love’s Bellevue Hotel, site of the first anniversary ball in 1925. Other celebrations throughout the year have included special ceremonies and activities at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, a Marine Week event in […]

The scheduled meeting of the BVA Book Club for Wednesday evening, November 26 (Thanksgiving Eve), has been canceled due to possible conflicts with holiday preparations for the next day. The club will resume meeting sometime in December, but probably not on Wednesday, December 24, when a potential holiday conflict arises once again. Book Club Group Leader Anthony Woodson advises both current readers and those new to the book club to start and/or continue their reading […]

October was another busy month for the Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group with three Braille Flag donation presentations, one in Destrehan, Louisiana, and another in the Algiers section of New Orleans on October 8 (morning and afternoon, respectively), and a third one on October 27 in the Lakeview area of New Orleans. The Destrehan presentation occurred at the St. Charles Parish Main Library. According to regional group member Gary Schoelerman, a bronze flag and identifying plaque have […]

National Vice President Tracy Ferro recently received a plaque and personalized Certificate of Recognition from Gulf Coast Health Care System (Biloxi, Mississippi) Director Stephanie A. Repasky, Psy.D. for his “extraordinary dedication and outstanding commitment.” The August 28 presentation and special citation highlighted specifically Tracy’s achievement of 4,000 hours of volunteer service. The certificate continues: Your tireless efforts and unwavering support have made a profound impact on the lives of our veterans. Through your selfless contributions, […]

Tune in throughout November and beyond to “Signing in the Dark: How Blind and Visually Impaired People Can Digitally Sign Documents with Apple Previewer, TeamViewer, and Aira,” the subject of the November episode of Visions of BVA. Podcast host Steve Baskis demonstrates how blind and visually impaired individuals can sign otherwise inaccessible digital documents using these three technologies. “This is not a full tutorial but an introduction to the concept of signing,” Steve said in […]

Earlier this week, the majority leadership of the House of Representatives sent a package of funding bills to the President’s desk, including the Continuing Resolution (CR) that would end the government shutdown and fully fund the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for Fiscal Year 2026. The final FY 26 MilCon/VA Appropriations bill, part of the 394-page CR, included the following provisions that affect potential VA policy and actions: Second Amendment Protections (Sec. 413) – Prohibits […]

Director of District 1 John O’Connell was honored as a “Hometown Hero” during a break in the action at the November 10 New Jersey Devils-New York Islanders National Hockey League game. The recognition highlighted his distinguished military service, his advocacy for blinded veterans, and his unwavering commitment to the veteran community. Before a packed arena at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, John was introduced on the Jumbotron at Center Ice with 9:43 remaining in the […]