BVA National Headquarters wishes all Association members and their families, the organization’s generous sponsors and friends, and hundreds of other loyal supporters a very Happy Veterans Day. The theme selected by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Day National Committee (VDNC) for this year’s Veterans Day observance at Arlington National Cemetery is “A Legacy of Loyalty and Service.” VDNC challenged professional and amateur artists nationwide to create a poster that reflected that theme. The […]

The concept of Whole Health centers around what matters to us, not what is the matter with us. We decide what is important for our health and well-being. At VA facilities across the country and through telehealth, a VA care team can help veterans develop a plan for all areas of their lives using a Personal Health Inventory. Nurse Educator Kathy Bixby of the Washington, DC VA Medical Center has taught classes on several topics […]

Eschenbach Optik of America, Inc., a leading manufacturer of high-quality magnification and vision enhancing solutions for the visually impaired, has announced the introduction of Optaro®, the first video magnifier specifically made for a Smartphone. This revolutionary new product easily attaches to an iPhone and turns two devices—a video magnifier and a phone—into one.   Optaro® can be attached to an iPhone one of two ways, either with a custom-fit, integrated case that holds both an iPhone […]

This month, the Blinded Veterans Association is excited to introduce the BVA Book Club Interest Group, a new way for Association members to connect, share experiences, and explore literature. The inaugural selection is the powerful and inspiring biography, Caution, Blind Priest Driving: The Story of Father Thomas J. Carroll, Changing the Public’s Perception of Blindness, by Rachel Rosenbaum. The BVA Book Club meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm Eastern Time via Zoom. […]

Community awareness of Lung Cancer Screening is very low. The third annual National LCS Day will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024. VA will participate in the screening the following week, November 12-15 (Tuesday-Friday). Through National LCS Day and VA’s participation the following week, VA hopes to shine a spotlight on the significance of lung cancer screening, educate veterans about the screening eligibility criteria, and encourage those who smoke to explore VA’s smoking cessation […]

Halloween unleashes a night of costumes, candy, and spooky celebrations. Hounds love Halloween too, but this tradition can bring many hazards to our four-legged friends. Did you know during the week of Halloween, calls to veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline increase by 12 percent, making it the call center’s busiest time of year? As “Howl O’Ween” approaches, I thought I should share some safety tips to keep your furry friends safe. Excited trick-or-treaters will be chiming […]

Since 2012, October 26 has been recognized by all 50 states as the National Day of the Deployed, a day dedicated to honoring those past and present who have been deployed throughout the world in U.S. military service. The day also acknowledges the sacrifices that military spouses and family make during deployment. The first-ever Day of the Deployed was observed in 2006 when North Dakota announced a proclamation for the day, thanks to the efforts […]

Darryl Goldsmith, a dedicated BVA stalwart who served the organization and his fellow blinded veterans locally and nationally for more than 30 years, passed away on October 20 after a short illness. The BVA family extends its deepest condolences to his wife, Vernea, daughters Euneek and Teakowa, and the Emerald Coast Regional Group that became such a significant part of his life. Despite losing most of his sight, Darryl was known to light up the […]

BVA members from New Jersey, Illinois, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, North Carolina, and South Carolina will march in the 2024 New York City Veterans Day Parade that will occur on Veterans Day (Monday, November 11, 2024) from 12:30 to 3:30pm Eastern Time. Come and be a part of the largest Veterans Day parade in the country, a great way to get the word out about the Blinded Veterans Association while taking part in a […]

Eugene (Gene) J. Baltes, BVA member and World War II Navy veteran, will turn 110 this Tuesday, October 29. This distinguished gentleman is the oldest living male on record residing in the United States and a member of the Blinded Veterans Association’s Illinois Regional Group. Gene’s family and friends numbering more than a hundred, including his regional group president, Anthony Woodson, celebrated this amazing milestone with him at a party in his honor on October […]