BVA Happenings previously covered the topic of federal regulations, how they are formed and how the public can influence their formulation and implementation. Perhaps no better practical example of these processes in action exists than for a current topic of interest and discussion within BVA that affects Association members who are dog handlers. Two related BVA events, in fact, occurred this week.  In this month’s Dog Handlers Outreach Program session this past Tuesday, BVA National President […]

A mini-U.S. flag is placed at each grave marker every year on Memorial Day weekend at Arlington National Cemetery. As this year’s Memorial Day approaches, the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) remembers and celebrates the ultimate sacrifice by men and women who have been willing to lay down their lives in the name of freedom and peace. The magnitude of those sacrifices, and the lifelong impact they have had on families of the fallen, is truly […]

Lourdes Tiglao, Director of VA Center for Women Veterans Lourdes Tiglao, Director of VA’s Center for Women Veterans, will be the guest speaker for the Women Veterans Outreach Program virtual meeting next Thursday, May 23, at 6:00pm Eastern Time. Ms. Tiglao serves as the primary advisor to VA Secretary Denis McDonough on the Department’s policies, programs, and legislation that affect women veterans.  She also oversees all of the Center’s activities, which include coordinating VA’s administration […]

Join this Tuesday’s virtual meeting of the Dog Handlers Outreach Program scheduled for 4:00pm Eastern Time via Zoom as attendees discuss the opportunity for public comment regarding the Animal Relief Attestation Form recently revised by the federal Department of Transportation (DOT). Due to the critical nature of the form to the dog handler community, BVA National President Paul Mimms and National Executive Director Don Overton will host and moderate this week’s session to offer background […]

VA has announced the creation of a new grant program to help service members and their spouses transition from military life to civilian life. The grants will be awarded to eligible organizations that provide employment-based resources and tools for transitioning service members and spouses — including resume assistance services, interview training, job recruitment training, employment placement services, and additional services that lead directly to a successful transition.  The announcement, released on May 10 in honor […]

The third Saturday in May is designated Armed Forces Day, also marking the end of Armed Forces Week. Both recognitions are designed to expand public understanding of the military and its role in civilian life. Parades, open houses, and receptions were held on the first Armed Forces Day on May 20, 1950. They continue today on military bases worldwide. Examples include activities such as the early morning America’s Armed Forces Kids Run, open to military […]

Photo Caption: The highly acclaimed Friendship Fountain in St. John’s River Park on the river’s south bank is six blocks from the Hyatt Regency. For potential attendees of the convention who are not able to attend the May 22 Town Hall, please note the urgency to register immediately with both BVA and the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. Completing the registration process will ensure entry into all BVA-specific activities and meetings held July 7-10, 2024. To […]

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on April 25 an expansion of its “Close to Me” cancer care program under which VA clinicians travel to provide veterans with the full continuum of cancer care at nearby community-based outpatient clinics, often in rural locations. The expansion will bring new cancer diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance services to an additional 9,000 veterans and 30 locations by the end of October 2025, providing veterans with what Secretary Denis […]

Veterans may be largely unaware of the option of a personal home when they are no longer able to safely live independently in the community. VHA’s Medical Foster Home (MFH) program offers a type of Community Residential Care (CRC) home chosen by veterans with serious chronic disabling conditions that meet nursing home level of care needs but who prefer a non-institutional setting for their long-term care. MFH brings together a person who is willing to […]

Last week I promised to share more about my adventures with my dad, Sheldon. The independence and companionship I provide as a guide dog opens a safer and more expanded world for Dad, who is a blind veteran. We attended a concert by his favorite singer, Fantasia, and have also seen the amazing Harlem Globetrotters at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. As a team, we have visited the Dallas VA Medical Center often and […]