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Blinded Veterans' Association (U.S.)

image by Stuart Nelson, 3 December 2004

Description of the flag
Detail of seal

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Description of the flag

A white flag with the BVA badge centered. The BVA flag consists of the logo in the middle of a rectangular white cloth, regardless of the size.To picture the emblem, think of a sculptured disc. The face of the disc is a composite of layered symbols inside a red bordered circle. The base if formed by white, fluffy clouds. The next layer features a five-pointed star with each point reaching out to the edge of the circle. To the right of the top point is a blue Christian Cross. To the left of the top point is a blue Star of David. A red broken bayonet runs vertically, centered on top of the five-pointed star. The top layer of the composite depicts a brown arm reaching from the right and a white arm reaching from the left. In the middle of the emblem, the arms meet in a handshake. Under the hands and the point of the bayonet are the blue capital letters "B", "V", "A."

Now that we know what the emblem looks like, let's explore its meaning. The five-pointed star represents the Armed Forces of the United States. The hands emerging from the background of clouds represent blindness. The clasped hands, one white and the other brown, symbolize the unity of races. The broken bayonet stands for the fact that blindness resulted from a service-connected injury. The Star of David and the Christian Cross represent the unity of creeds. The initials "BVA" stand for the Blinded Veterans Association.

Thanks to a Bulletin account of an April 12, 1948 meeting, we can go back in history for even more information about the emblem. The meeting was between President Harry Truman and the early leaders of the Blinded Veterans Association. During the Oval Office gathering, President Truman presented BVA with its official emblem.

In accepting the insignia, BVA National President Jack Brady offered remarks the further explain BVA's symbol. President Brady said, "In this emblem we have tried to express a fact which paradoxically became clearer to us through blindness. Through our years of hospitalization and our close association since that time, we have acquired an insight into the equality of men which we only wish we could pass on to all our fellow citizens. We have learned that discrimination as to color and creed as no foundation in fact. Blinded veterans have accepted each other simply as fellow human beings with a common problem. When you cannot see, you accept the man you meet on an equal basis, free of all reaction to the color of his skin and of all prejudice as to his religious belief.

"We have chosen this emblem not only to identify ourselves as men who lost their sight while serving their country, but also to demonstrate to the sighted world our deep conviction in the brotherhood of man."

Stuart R. Nelson, 7 December 2004
Communications Coordinator
Blinded Veterans Association

Detail of seal

image by Stuart Nelson, 3 December 2004