The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health and Benefits mobile application puts VA information and resources at veterans’ fingertips via their smartphones—anywhere, anytime. The capabilities of the app include, but are not limited to, the viewing and canceling of health care appointments, refilling and tracking VA-dispensed prescriptions, checking on claims and appeals status, uploading documentation to VA, obtaining vaccine records, sending a message to a doctor, locating a VA facility, and accessing the Veterans Crisis […]

A national historic landmark, the Florida Theatre in the middle of downtown Jacksonville is one of only four remaining high-style movie palaces built in the state in the 1920s. It now hosts more than 200 annual events, everything from ballet and opera to contemporary pop, jazz, rock, country, and blues concerts. Photo courtesy of Ken McCray Photography and Visit Jacksonville. Thanks go out to BVA members and friends who attended the third in our series […]

“G”, BVA’s April Ambassadog. As Ambassadogs, we sometimes can’t resist being a bit nosy, especially when it comes to knowing what our human handlers think and say about us guide dogs. My dad, Arsenio, gave me the green light to tune into the tail end of Tuesday’s BVA Dog Handler Group meeting. Something intriguing unfolded after the official meeting wrapped up: a chat between Yoneka Trent, the meeting’s moderator that day, and Teresa Galgano, the […]

Attention BVA members and friends! Please join us this Wednesday, April 24, at 2:00pm Eastern Time, for the third in our series of BVA National Convention Town Halls. The upcoming session via Zoom will provide you with the latest news and information to assist you in your convention planning process. Read more. Specifically, attendees at the Town Hall will be provided with the following: An overview of the 79th National Convention, including all the important […]

My tenure as the March Ambassadog has come to an end. It is now time to toss the frisbee to my fellow Ambassadog “G” who guides BVA member Arsenio Cordero. Throughout the month of April, “G” will share tales and a few informative details about his working life.   I enjoyed sharing my adventures with you and hopefully my dad, Rob, and I have been a great example of empowering dignity, independence, and self-worth. We hope […]

At just 20 years old, Corporal Matthew Bradford was fighting for his life, battling depression and guilt after sustaining life-threatening injuries. It was January 18, 2007, when a bomb planted by an insurgent in Haditha, Iraq, exploded inside a culvert directly underneath his feet. The injuries resulted, among other long-term consequences, in immediate blindness and loss of both legs. Throughout most of his youth, Matthew had a strong impression that it was his mission in […]

From left to right: BVA Executive Director Tim Hornik, BVA National President Paul Mimms, and BVA National Development Director Meredith Buono-Dagrossa. BVA is pleased to announce the reception of a Reader’s Digest Partners For Sight (RDPFS) grant to support the Association’s Ambassador Program. Consisting of a national network of trained volunteers, the Ambassador Program provides information about benefits and services available to veterans and connects them with resources they can access through BVA, the Department […]

Daylight Saving Time is once again upon us with the onset of Spring. In just days, BVA members and their families will lose an hour of sleep if they slumber during their normal hours. With the exception of the states of Arizona and Hawaii, most of the continental United States “springs forward” officially one hour at 2:00am local time on Sunday, March 10. The additional daylight during the evening hours will last until November 3, […]

Paul Mimms visits with former Senator, former Secretary of Labor, and former President of the American Red Cross Elizabeth Dole prior to Wednesday Congressional Hearing. Seated next to Paul at the witness table, Senator Dole offered opening remarks at the hearing in support of caregiver legislation. National President Paul Mimms was in the Nation’s Capital this week to deliver BVA’s oral testimony during a packed session of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs […]

View of the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel at dusk with windows lit up that spell out USA. BVA members and their families throughout the country gathered virtually via Zoom yesterday for the first of several Town Hall meetings with National Headquarters staff relating to the upcoming BVA 79th National Convention at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville (Florida) Riverfront Hotel (see adjacent photo).  The official dates for the BVA business portion of the convention are July […]