The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary celebrates its 86th birthday this Monday, June 23. Strange and unnecessary as it may seem, the Coast Guard has both a Reserve as well as an Auxiliary component. While BVA and other Veterans Service Organizations have supportive Auxiliary organizations, the functions of the Coast Guard Auxiliary are different. Duties include those similar to or in support of the regular Coast Guard, but these functions also promote and support general maritime […]

Today, June 20, marks the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in 2025 and the astronomical start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Despite the enjoyment that can come from warm summer weather—vacations, picnics, holiday parades, swimming, etc., our eyes are particularly vulnerable during this time of year, regardless of the extent of our remaining vision. The Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington, DC, offers a few practical tips to keep our […]

Together with more than 50 other Military and Veterans Service Organizations, BVA continues to carefully monitor the progress of the Major Richard Star Act, proposed bipartisan legislation to provide combat-injured veteran retirees with their full benefits. S. 1032, introduced in the 119th Congress by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), now has 76 bipartisan co-sponsors. The House companion version of the bill, introduced by Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25), now has 280 co-sponsors. At […]

VA announced last week that its Health and Benefits mobile application has achieved more than 3 million downloads since its launch in 2021. The app, which has 1.4 million active users, provides veterans with access to a variety of VA health care and benefits information directly from their mobile phones. The information available is among the most commonly sought and needed by veterans on a regular basis. The app helps veterans to do the following: Refill and […]

The work of the Office of Women’s Health of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) reflects the growth in the number of women who have served in the military and are subsequently eligible for VA benefits. Today, women make up 17.5 percent of the veterans who have served on active duty, while 21.6 percent of the veterans who have served in the National Guard/Reserves are women. The total number of women veteran VHA users nationwide has […]

Humans, are you having trouble reading prescription medication labels for your Ambassadog? I have sniffed out the answer. BVA members can receive En-Vision America’s ScripTalk Talking Prescription Labels on their guide dog medications from CHEWY.  ScripTalk is a free, user-friendly service available at thousands of pharmacies throughout the United States and Canada that will read all medication information aloud.   This service has also been available to blind and low vision veterans through VA Blind Rehabilitation […]

BVA has joined several other Veterans Service Organizations in voicing opposition to H.R. 3132, the CHOICE for Veterans Act of 2025. If legislated into law, the new law would enable private, for-profit companies to charge thousands of dollars for the same service that the BVA Veterans Service Program (VSP) and its trained, accredited staff members provide without charge. It would allow the outside companies to offer initial assistance and charge up to $12,500, or an […]

While the summer season is generally considered a popular time for cooking red meat and chicken, especially on outdoor grills, it is also the perfect time to fuel the body with fresh, seasonal foods that are now known to support lifelong vision health. The Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington names antioxidants like Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Beta Carotene, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Zinc as beneficial nutrients in preserving vision health. Fortunately, […]

Juneteenth National Independence Day, to be celebrated in 2024 next Wednesday, June 19, became the newest federal holiday in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. The holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. A combination of the words June and nineteenth, Juneteeth recalls the events of a day more than two months after the end of the Civil War and more than two years after Abraham […]

Father’s Day is a time to celebrate all dads. Those who have served our country in uniform deserve special appreciation this coming Sunday for the unique challenges they faced while serving and for the Father’s Days they may have missed with their children growing up. Unbeknownst to many of us in 2025, the history of Father’s Day involves a dad who was also a veteran. The Father’s Day holiday was first introduced in 1910 in […]