Congress designated May as National Military Appreciation Month on April 30, 1999, to ensure that the nation was given the opportunity to publicly show appreciation for troops past and present. The month-long observance serves as a reminder of the profound contributions made by service members. May was chosen since several military-related observances, in addition to Memorial Day, are already commemorated in May. Then Senator John McCain proposed the observance, and the Senate approved it 93-0. 

Photo Caption: Back row, left to right, Bill Laughlin, Carolyn Graham, and Paul Mimms with guide dog Shadow. Frank Graham is seated in the motorized chair and, together with Paul, holds up the Braille flag for display. On April 30, BVA National President Paul Mimms delivered a Braille flag to the Veterans Home in Cameron, Missouri, approximately an hour from his home in Kansas City. The donation was made on behalf of the Heartland Regional

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last week finalized a rule under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, advancing equity and bolstering protections for people with disabilities. BVA was among a number of organizations openly supporting the additional protections, which address discrimination in medical treatment, add enforceable standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment, and ensure accessible web content and mobile applications.  The

Photo Caption: The Ritz Museum, part of the Ritz Theatre in the LaVilla neighborhood of downtown Jacksonville, documents the culture and history of people of African descent in northeast Florida. Photo courtesy of Visit Jacksonville. All BVA members are strongly encouraged to register immediately for the BVA National Convention with both BVA and the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel. Completing the registration process will ensure entry into all BVA-specific activities and meetings held July 7-10,