BOTH ARE TRUE RED,WHITE, AND BLUE... BUT!   The VA vs The DAV   As marketiers, ATB will be the first to point out that much of the confusion surrounding the DAV and VA is caused by the generic words "disabled American veterans," for the phrase is used extensively, by many people, to refer to wounded veterans with lifelong disabilities.    That said, the capitalized "Disabled American Veterans" and the stylized DAV are brand and trademarked names for the oldest and most respected Congressionally Chartered PRIVATE veterans' charity in American.   The VA, which shares two of DAV's three letters, is the acronym for Veterans Administration which is a PUBLIC branch of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, a Cabinet Level position in our United States government.   THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE IS ENORMOUS.   The PUBLIC VA is funded through obigatory taxes paid by citizens.  The PRIVATE DAV is solely funded by voluntary tax-deductible contributions made by individuals, businesses, and other funds.   So, structurally, the DAV and the VA operate on two totally different funding sources and authorities.   Nothwithstanding, the relationship between the DAV and VA is historic, harmonious, and sometimes contentious all at the same time.  Thinking of the DAV - VA relationship as "family," helps most people understand the complexity and interdependence of the entities... all while being independent of each other. Together, the entities optimize a sub-optimal system in need of executive level reform.. For example:  The VA buys the vans which DAV volunteers drive to bring disabled veterans to VA hospitals.  Without the DAV rides, many vets would never get to the VA hospitals for treatments.   For example:  DAV National Service Officers argue against the VA for having denied a disabled veterans' medical coverages.  Without the DAV NSOs, the VA would not treat many deserving vets.   Get the idea?  If so, then the important thing to remember is that...   the VA -- PUBLICALLY FUNDED BY YOUR INVOLUNTARY TAXES -- is the PROVIDER of medical coverage to disabled American veterans... and   the DAV -- PRIVATELY AND SOLELY FUNDED THROUGH VOLUNTARY DONATIONS -- is the ADVOCATE & TRANSPORTER for the VA's medical treatment of disabled American veterans.   Both organizations serve veterans. BOTH ARE TRUE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE!   Both need your support:    VA reforms need your political support to PLACE PRESSURE on your Representatives, Senators, and President for overall system and benefits improvements.   DAV programs need your financial support to continue delivering FREE SERVICES  to veterans and organized POLITICAL PRESSURE on politicians... all backed by the strength of approximately 2 million members and millions more supporters.