DAV NATIONAL CHAPTER SINCE FEBRRUARY 1925

Heading to Phoenix, AZ fir tge DAV National Convention
August 3 – 6, 2024
For details: https://www.dav.org/events/

The DAV Blind Chapter held their previous annual business meeting in Atlantic City, NJ on August 5, 2023 Newly Elected Officers are:

COMMANDER: Leonard Pope
SENIOR VICE COMMANDER: Janice Thompson
FIRST JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER: Dennis O'Connell

Appointments
Adjutant: Paul Kaminsky
Chaplin: Ron Lester
JUDGE ADVOCATE: Dennis O'connell
TREASURER: Paul Kaminsky

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SPECIAL NOTICE:
DAV MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE NO LONGER  SET RESPECTIVE TO AGE.
MEMBERSHIP  DUES ARE NOW: $350

(80 YEARS OR OLDER STILL NO COST)

DUES CAN BE PAID WITH A MONTHLY CREDIT CARD CHARGE OF AS LOW AS $10 PER MONTH

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Our Purpose

The Blind Veterans National Chapter, the only Blind Chapter in the Disabled American Veterans organization.
Purpose is to build better lives for America's blind veterans and their families. 
Who else knows more about sight loss than those who live with it day after day?

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Click here for the Blind Veterans National Chapter's Constitution & Bylaws

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NEWSLETTERS:  The Blind Veterans National Chapter produces a newsletter bimonthly.  Click here for the old newsletters.

May 2012 DAV Magazine Published an Article Considered Still Relavent Today:
"White Cane Means YIELD!" To Read: Click Here.


DAV Blind Veterans National Chapter #1 Delivers
The Keys To A New Ford Van


In The Photo Above
Left Center (the late) Past Commander Eddie Humphrey
Right Center (the late) Past Commander Richard Bugbee
Deliver The Keys.

DAV Blind Veterans National Chapter #1Delivers The Keys To A New Ford VanTo The Tucson, AZ Blind Rehab Center. The Van Is The First Van The Blind Chapter Has Ever Been Able To Donate. The Van Will Be Used By The Blind Rehab Center Allowing Them To Ensure Blind Vets always Have Transportation To Provide Access To Their Mobility Training. Donations Accrued Were Savings Accumulated From Donations Received From Many DAV Chapters. Many Thanks From The DAV Blind Veterans Community To All Those Generous Chapters.


Meetings
DAV National Blind Chapter #1 Annual Meetings
are held during the DAV National conventions


Past Annual
Installation of Officers Breakfast
Held During The DAV National Conventions

Hope to return some day!





National Blind Chapter's Newest Project

The Tactile Braille American Flag



The Blind Veterans National Chapter has for the past few years been causing Tactile Braille Flags to be placed throughout the country so blind veterans may once again see, with their fingers, our American Flag. As one blind veteran said: "I know I am being remembered with someone making it possible for me able again to see my Flag." The primary goal of the Chapter is to hopefully have one of these Bronze Braille American Flags displayed proudly in every VA Facility where Visual Impairment Support Team (VIST) Coordinators are assigned. After that, continue to have installed in all VA Facilities in the Nation.


The Blind Veterans National Chapter #1 working with the non profit organizations (Kansas Braille Transscription Institute, KS and the American Braille Flag Project, FL) Have placed more than 150 Vronze Tactile Braille American Flags throughout the United states. Sites such as the Arlington National Cemetery, World Trade Center, Flingt 93 Memorial (Shanksville, PA), VA Blind Rehab Centers, VA Medical Centeers, VA Nursing Homes, National Cemeteries, etc. DAV National Headquarters has also placed a Bronze Tactile Braille American Flag on their grounds.


The American Braille Flag is a tactile representation of the American Flag, recognized in 2008 by the U.S. Congress as an official tactile representation of the American Flag. The upper left corner are the stars, each of which represents the 50 states and are arranged in nine rows in alternating clusters of six and five. The long smooth horizontal lines represent the red stripes. The end of each stripe is embossed with the Braille dots 4, 5, 6 followed by the lower case "r", indicating the color red. Between each of the representations of the red stripes are the long raised textured areas representing the white stripes. The end of each stripe is embossed with the Braille dots 4, 5, 6 followed by the lower case "w", indicating the color white. As should be, there are a total of thirteen stripes which represent the original thirteen American colonies of England which became the original thirteen states. The pledge of allegiance is embossed over the smooth red stripes. This graphic not only serves those Americans who have become blind, but equally serves as a teaching/learning tactile aid for instructing blind students how the American flag appears to the sighted. The flag comes in various sizes and designs.


Raising The Flag For All To See...Including The Blind



Below are some videos of places where these Flags
have found homes!


Lake City, Florida (video)


Wichita, KS VA medical center (video)


Topeka, KS VA medical Center (video)


Augusta, GA VA medical Center (video)


         Iraq Veteran(video)


     Jacksonville, FL VA OPC(video)

Membership
Membership in the Disabled American Veterans Blind Veterans National Chapter requires meeting the eligibility requirements for the Disabled American Veterans and the Blind Veterans National Chapter as listed below. 

DAV Requirements:
Any man or woman, who was wounded, gassed, injured or disabled in line of duty during time of war, while in the service of either the military or naval forces of the United States of America, and who has not been dishonorably discharged or separated from such service, or who may still be in active service in the armed forces of the United States of America is eligible for membership in the Disabled American Veterans. Others, who are disabled while serving with any of the armed forces of any nations associated with the United States of America as allies during any of its war periods, who are American citizens and who are honorably discharged, are also eligible.


BLIND CHAPTER Requirements

Requirements for membership:  (rev. 9/75) any man or woman who is eligible for membership under article III of the national constitution of the parent organization and suffered the anatomical loss of both eyes, or is blind in both eyes, with 20/200 visual acuity or less, or has visual field reduction to 20 degrees or less, shall be eligible for membership. 

Note:
You do not have to have a service connection disability for blindness to be eligible; your disability can be for any disability.

The Disabled American Veterans shall not have honorary members.

You may want to contact the VIST (Visual Impairment Service Team) Coordinator at the Veterans Administration Medical Center that you go to for assistance with blind rehabilitation and prosthetics.


JOIN   THE  DAV BLIND   VETERANS  NATIONAL  CHAPTER #1

1. Click here for Membership Application (NEW Member, Mail In)
2. Click here for Online Membership Application (NEW Member & Credit Card Required)
3. Click here for Membership Transfer Form (From One Chapter to Blind Chapter, No Costs)

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS



MAIL - Contact
DAV - Blind Veterans National ChapteR #1
Atten: Paul Kaminsky USN-Ret
4295 Powderhorn Ct,
Middleburg, FL 32068-2210


Elected & Appointed Officers (As of August 2023)

COMMANDER: LEONARD POPE
SENIOR VICE COMMANDER: JJANICE THOMPSON
FIRST JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER: DENNIS O'CONNELL
JUDGE ADVOCATE: DENNIS O'CONNELL
CHAPLIN: RON LESTER
ADJUTANT: PAUL KAMINSKY
TREASURER : PAUL KAMINSKY

Chapter Commander:  LEONARD POPE
E-mail Chapter Commander

Chapter Adjutant: PAUL KAMINSKY

E-mail Chapter Adjutant

IF I CANNOT SPEAK GOOD OF MY COMRADE,
I WILL NOT SPEAK ILL OF HIM OR HER