BVL launches the BVL SALUTE TO VETERANS campaign for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Everyone is asked to share stories of their local Veterans at BVL.ORG/SALUTE and nominate a Veteran to be BVL’s guest at the Veterans Day ceremony in November 2025 in Washington, D.C.

Vietnam Veteran and PBA Legend Johnny Petraglia marks his 50th year in support of BVL. Petraglia, who served in the Army from 1967-68, has been a spokesperson for five decades.

BVL celebrated 80 years of service to veterans and awarded the largest donation in the organization’s history, a $500,000 grant to be split between two national veterans programs – VET CENTER and the National Association of State Veterans Homes (NASVH).

 It took five months and five million steps for David “Kilroy” Kellerman to complete the largest individual fundraiser in BVL history. Kellerman took off nearly six months from his center, Mel’s Lone Star Lanes in Georgetown, Texas, to complete the 2,192-mile hike through the Appalachian Trail, raising more than $100,000 for BVL.

Hundreds of portable lane kits are sent to men and women overseas as part of Bowlers Salute America’s Troops program.

BVL accepted as an Associate Member of the National Veterans Day Committee, a group of prominent veterans organizations who plan and participate in the National Veterans Day Ceremony each year at Arlington National Cemetery. BVL board members, representing America’s bowlers, lay a wreath at the annual memorial services at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The BVL Fund becomes the Bowlers to Veterans Link. The new name is to signify the inextricable link between bowlers and the well-being of America’s veterans.

Earl Anthony is named Honorary Co-Chair of BVL and spends the next year traveling with Helen Duval, running bowling clinics in VA hospitals all over the country.

BVL celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

For the first time, BVL raises one million dollars during an annual campaign.

Bowlers Victory Legion becomes The BVL Fund. Bowling legend Helen Duval begins to travel all over the country for BVL teaching bowling to hospitalized veterans. She will teach thousands the benefits of her sport for more than 25 years.

BVL provides $25,000 to Army hospitals to support Vietnam veterans who are awaiting transfer to VA hospitals.

BVL receives Outstanding Service Award from the Blinded Veterans Associations.

The first BVL tournament, a bowling competition among VA hospitals, was held with President Truman awarding trophies to the winners.

Members of the Women’s International Bowling Congress purchased medical rescue planes to bring home wounded soldiers from World War II. American Bowling Congress members provided comfort kits to hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

BVL was originally founded by the women’s bowling association as Bowlers Victory Legion – with a commitment to support veterans and active-duty military. The original creed included this promise: “Our debt to them is profound. The least they might expect is that all of us accomplish everything within our means to restore them to normal existences. Neither must we forget those now fighting for the same cause.”