RAISING THE FLAG FOR ALL TO SEE
INCLUDING THE BLIND
P.O. Box 232
Middleburg, FL 32050-0232
https://www.abfp.us
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RAISING THE FLAG FOR ALL TO SEE INCLUDING THE BLIND P.O. Box 232 Middleburg, FL 32050-0232 https://www.abfp.us |
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THE "PROJECT"
Thank you for electing to find out more about the “American Braille
Flag Project”.
GOAL:
Primary:
As a
patriotic and
educational endeavor place a tactile American Braille Flag in VA
facilities visited by blind veterans.
It is estimated that America has more than 30 million blind/low
vision veterans and citizens.
HISTORY:
Randolph Cabral,
President of the Kansas Braille Transcription Institute (KBTI) and
the son of a World War II blind veteran created the tactile/Braille
American Flag to honor his father. In February 2008, through the
combined efforts of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), KBTI and
U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt, the U.S. Congress unanimously
authorized placement of a bronze monument of the Braille Flag at
Arlington National Cemetery as a tribute to blind veterans of all
wars, and other blind Americans. In April of 2008 the Braille flag
was officially installed at the cemetery representing a Braille
replica of the U.S. American Flag. literally thousands have found
their way into the hands and hearts of many sighted and blind
civilians, veteran's, veteran's hospitals, memorials parks, offices
of elected officials, schools for the blind, and many other places.
The Blinded Veterans
Association alone has given hundreds of framed Braille flags as appreciation
awards to blind veterans not only to American Veterans but also to
blind Veterans in other countries. DESCRIPTION: The original Flash Bronze Braille tactile flag has in the upper left corner 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 9 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 of the new independent Republic. The pledge of allegiance is embossed in standard font English literary Braille code 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 is well sized for portability (13.25" by 12" and weighs 7.5 ibs), and is easily distributed as demonstration pieces at a conference, work shop, or seminar. Additional variations are now available in non-Bronze material. Each variation is tactile like the original Bronze Flag.
FORCE BEHIND PROJECT
Project's President and blinded Veteran,Walt Peters, USA-Ret SSGT served three tours in Vietnam, and was a recipient of a framed Braille Flag presented by, the designer of the Braille Flag, Randolph Cabral, of the Kansas Braille Transcription Institute, Wichita, KS. Peters felt a bronze copy of the Braille Flag needed to be physically located in every VA facility throughout the Nation, and framed copies should be placed in classrooms where blind and low vision American students could see it by a touch of their fingers! Walt has made this the mission of the American Braille Flag Project. To help: send donations to American Braille Flag Project - PO Box 232 - Middleburg, FL 32050-0232. or click on the DONATE button on the website! Thank you for visiting this site and God bless America  |
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American Braille Flag Project, Inc.
Walt Peters spent 20 years in the
Army, 1962-1983. He retired as a Staff sergeant. As a special operations
aviator in Vietnam, he compiled three tours of duty in that country. His
service to his country came with a huge cost to his own wellbeing. he was
doused with Agent Orange three or four times” during those tours. Agent
Orange has left many service members with long lasting disabling effects.
Around 1997 his eyesight started going and he was diagnosed with chemical
diabetes and has had some 30 surgeries. As such he can only see
silhouettes. Walt has dedicated himself to the American Braille Flag Project
hoping to Raise the American Braille Flag for All to See, Including the
Blind.
American Braille Flag Project, Inc. Paul Kaminsky retired from the U.S. Navy after serving 30 years, 1965-1995. He held Enlisted paygrades E-1 to E-9 (AVCM) and Officer ranks O-1 to O-5 (Commander). He flew with the Navy Hurricane Hunters, served with Navy fighter squadrons onboard the USS Independence, USS America, and the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Kaminsky began losing his eyesight in 1982, by 1985 was legally blind. His last 10 years, in the Navy, he was legally blind but because of his ability to perform all his duties he remained classified as fit for full duty and continued on active duty with the rest of his contemporaries. Kaminsky is dedicated to the American Braille Flag Project and too with the Project’s goal, to make this Braille Flag available throughout the Nation. |
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