Moose lodge helps present braille flag
It was given to the VA Hospital’s H.J. Heinz Campus in Pittsburgh.
“A burden heavy to one is borne lightly by many.”
That is one of the founding principles of the Loyal Order of the Moose, a fraternal and service organization created in 1888, with nearly 1 million members in roughly 1,300 lodges across all 50 states, four Canadian provinces and Great Britain.
Teresa Costa and her mother, Denise Bennett, proudly serve at their local Moose lodge in Finleyville, a tight-knit group always looking for ways to support their lodge and their community.
Recently they partnered with American Braille Flag Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the placement of braille flags throughout the country.
On Monday, she was at the VA Hospital’s H.J. Heinz Campus in Pittsburgh, where a braille flag was unveiled beside the entrance of the Intermediate Low Vision Clinic.
“I am honored to represent the Moose, specifically District 11 of The Pennsylvania Moose Association,” Costa said.
District 11 represents lodges from Belle Vernon, Cokeburg, Connellsville, Finleyville, Scottdale, Sutersville, Uniontown, Waynesburg and West Newton.
Mooseheart, located just west of Chicago, is a residential childcare community that provides a safe and nurturing home for children and teens in need.
Moosehaven is a retirement community located along St. Johns River in Orange Park, Fla. It offers a full range of care from independent living to enhanced living, skilled nursing and memory care services.
The third pillar is Heart of the Community, a multi-faceted effort to serve internal charities as well as many national charities and our local communities.
The PMA first partnered with the American Braille Flag Project in June 2024, when they dedicated a braille flag to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville.
“That powerful experience sparked a statewide commitment by our PMA state board to support the project’s mission,” Costa said. “In August, during our state convention, the board issued a challenge for all lodges to present a braille flag to their local VA facility. The response was extraordinary, and we are proud to report that nearly every VA facility in the commonwealth has now received a flag.
“(This is) another step toward fulfilling the challenge. On behalf of District 11 of the Pennsylvania Moose Association, I am privileged to present this American Braille Flag to the H.J. Heinz III Campus Intermediate Low Vision Clinic.”
The American Braille Flag, created by Randolph Cabral in honor of his father, a blind veteran, is an official tactile representation of the American flag and was recognized by the United States Congress in February 2008.
In April of that year, the first braille flag was installed at Arlington National Cemetery, bringing The American Braille Flag Project to life.
It was started by blind veterans Walt Peters and Paul Kaminsky, whose mission is to place an American Braille Flag in every VA facility across the country.
There are more than one million veterans with vision loss in the United States, with approximately 130,000 who are legally blind.
In the upper left-hand corner of the flag there are stars, with the horizontal lines representing the 13 alternating red and white stripes. The end of each stripe is embossed with braille dots indicating the stripe’s color.
The Pledge of Allegiance is embossed over the smooth red stripes.
“The braille flag ensures that every individual, regardless of ability, can recognize and honor the American flag,” Costa said.
Gina Palastro, visual impairment service team coordinator at VA Pittsburgh, said Monday marked a special occasion.
“This flag is a powerful symbol of inclusion, accessibility and respect for the veterans we serve. For many, the flag is something we see, but for veterans living with vision loss, that connection is different,” Palastro said. “This flag allows veterans to experience the symbol of our nation through touch.”
The clinic at Pittsburgh VA serves veterans living with vision loss, offering comprehensive evaluations and personalized care plans including prescription and training of low vision aid like such as magnifiers, specialized glasses and electronic devices to help veterans make the most of their remaining sight.
“We work closely with each veteran to identify their goals and daily challenges. We go even further, offering support that addresses every aspect of independent living,” Palastro said. “This includes orientation and mobility training, skills for daily living such, computer and technology instruction using accessible software, and even emotional support to help individuals adjust to vision loss with confidence. Our mission is to restore independence, dignity, and a sense of purpose for every person we service.
“This flag is more than a marker on the wall. It represents the spirit of our mission: that no veteran is left behind, and that vision loss does not take away one’s identity, one’s patriotism, or one’s dignity. Vision loss may change how someone sees the world, but it should never limit how they live in it.”
