Veterans with Vision Loss to Commemorate Notable Anniversary

Blinded veterans and their families across the United States are helping to organize local events in their respective regions this spring to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) on March 28, 1945.

The milestone anniversary remembers the approximately 78 young World War II veterans who had lost their sight in combat and gathered in an early morning meeting at Avon Old Farms Army Convalescent Hospital for the purpose of organizing themselves to help one another.

Public Law 111-156, enacted in March 2010 by the 111th Congress in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate with two separate resolutions, designated March 28 each year going forward as National Blinded Veterans Day in recognition of BVA’s efforts to promote the establishment and improvement of rehabilitation services and benefits for America’s blinded veterans.

BVA has also requested the assistance of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center Directors and Blind Rehabilitation Service staff (Visual Impairment Service Team Coordinators, Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialists, and Blind Rehabilitation Center Directors) in organizing the commemorative activities and events. 

BVA’s Regional Groups will raise awareness on this date by hosting public events, and also request various elected state, county, and city officials recognize the “Blinded Veterans Day” with proclamations and public events. Share BVA national web site with these events www.bva.org and invite news media to regional group meetings March 28, 2020.

General Omar Bradley, VA Administrator in the late 1940s, appointed BVA to be the first official representative for blinded veterans for the filing of claims and appeals to VA, making it only the eighth Veterans Service Organization to receive such authorization. In August 1958, BVA was chartered by the U.S. Congress to be the exclusive voice for blinded veterans with the VA and in annual testimony on Capitol Hill. 

From its early beginnings, BVA encouraged the blinded veterans it served “to take their rightful place in the community with their fellow men and work with them toward the creation of a peaceful world.” The organization has continued in its advocacy efforts whereby war blinded veterans and those who lose their sight due to disease or age-related causes can regain independence, confidence, and self-esteem through rehabilitation training.

We encourage raising awareness about this special 75^th anniversary. The BVA 75^th national convention will be held in Washington DC in August, please follow us on the web site for more information www.bva.org.