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As he turned down a narrow street in downtown Phoenix looking
for a parking spot, Arizona State Council President Bill
Messer had to slow down for half-a-dozen guys in dark glasses
and white canes, most with women helping them cross the street.
Messer, who is also a Chapter Director of Phoenix Chapter
432, had volunteered to man the nursing station—where
he and other Phoenix VA Medical Center staff provided wellness
care and glucose and blood pressure readings—during
the Blinded Veterans of America 63rd Annual Convention, held
August 12-16.
The nursing station was next to the dog run,
which gave Messer the opportunity to meet many veterans.
The first he spoke with was Special Forces, his face scarred
from a 2002 combat injury in Afghanistan that had left him
blind. The young man spoke openly of his blindness and injury.
He chain-smoked but was friendly with a calm demeanor. He
held his dog’s
leash lightly, their communication shared wordlessly. He
asked about Vietnam; Messer asked about Afghanistan. He told
Messer there were eight new members from Iraq and Afghanistan
attending the BVA Convention this year.
Later, walking through
the BVA vendor area—so unlike
VVA’s displays of patches and pins—Messer was
fascinated by the many kinds of monitors displaying large
print and pictures; needs-tailored cameras, web cams, and
GPS systems; speaking devices for alarm clocks and wrist
watches; and glasses and canes that buzzed or vibrated. The
ages of the attendees ranged from their twenties to their
eighties. Everyone was open and friendly. “Next time,
I would like to plan for a greater VVA presence,” Messer
said.
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2011, Vietnam Veterans of America. All Rights Reserved. 8719 Colesville Road, Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910