BVA’s own Marlene Davis-Lilly, Deputy National Service Director, member of the Captain Buddy Spivey Razorback Regional Group and Chapter Coordinator of Central Arkansas Team River Runner, schedules regular kayak events for area blinded veterans beginning in April of every year. This year was different, however, due to the theft of 12 kayaks and other essential gear. “We had an event programmed for the month of April to teach our blinded veterans of Memphis how to […]

Please connect with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project this Monday, May 6, from 3:00-4:45pm for a live virtual event commemorating Jewish American Heritage Month and Holocaust Remembrance Day. The purpose of the event is to celebrate the contributions of Jewish veterans to the nation and to recall reverently the 6 million victims of the Holocaust.  Every year in May, hundreds of organizations and Americans of all backgrounds join together to discover, explore, and […]

An UBER ride will get you to the taproom at the popular Veterans United Craft Brewery. The veteran-owned brewery features cold, craft beer brewed on the premises and guided Saturday tours of the production areas that include samples of fresh American and European ales on tap. Photo courtesy of Visit Jacksonville. Are you or a family member or guest still planning on attending the BVA 79th National Convention, but haven’t yet registered? If so, please […]

Keep Wednesday, May 1, at 2:00pm Eastern Time open on your calendars for VetTech’s Weekly Wednesday Webinar. The VetTech Team will welcome Michelle Mendez, National Sales Director for OrCam. Learn more about the power of MyEye Pro and Read to help users recognize the world around them.  Thanks to OrCam’s cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence, the MyEye Pro and Read possess impressive Optical Character Recognition accuracy and responsiveness. This means that user information is processed directly onto […]

“G”, BVA’s April Ambassadog. The BVA 79th National Convention is fast approaching and I wanted to share some useful information for my fellow Ambassadogs. As you may have heard, the convention is being held at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront in Jacksonville, Florida, and my tail is wagging with excitement. Convention brings opportunities for us guide dogs to help our veterans navigate throughout the various meetings, events, and exhibit hall, but in addition, there is a very […]

This Wednesday, May 1, is Silver Star Service Banner Day. It is a day set aside to remember the sacrifices of those who have been wounded, sickened, or killed in combat across all branches of the military and thank them for their courage. It also recognizes those who have been awarded the Silver Star Medal, the third highest military decoration for valor and typically awarded for actions over a short time period. It may also […]

At center, Southeast Louisiana Health Care System Director Fernando Rivera with Gary Schoelerman, accompanied by Bogalusa Staff, Joe Burns, and guide dog Kendrick. Photo courtesy of Gary Schoelerman. The changing of the seasons has ignited the already high energy level of members of the Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group when it comes to their visibility and demonstrable generosity in local communities of both of the states they cover. They continue their quest to place Bronze Braille American […]

The BVA Women Veterans Group (WVG) will meet via Zoom next Thursday, April 25, at 6:00pm Eastern Time. The meeting will feature BVA National President Paul Mimms and National Executive Director/National Legislative Director Donald Overton. The focus will be legislative advocacy as it relates to issues that affect women veterans in the areas of benefits, services, equality, and recognition.  The Blinded Veterans Association is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: BVA Women Veterans […]

Since 2020, the Parkinson’s Foundation and VA have partnered to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for veterans with Parkinson’s Diseases and their loved ones. VA’s concern for veterans began much earlier, however. In 2001, Parkinson’s Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers (PADRECCs) were established to deliver state-of-the-art clinical care, pioneering research, and educational programs to an expansive geographic region staffed by internationally recognized movement disorder specialists. PADRECCs are housed as Centers of […]

VA has announced the launching on May 31 of the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) Program that will help tens of thousands of veterans currently experiencing severe financial hardship avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes. The program is a last-resort tool in VA’s comprehensive suite of home retention options for eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses with VA-guaranteed home loans who are unable to meet their mortgage obligations.  Under VASP, VA will […]