Veterans service organizations throughout the Mountain State, have during the past two decades, had declines in membership...especially among younger war veterans.

Similar organizations in Parkersburg say they are, at the least, holding their own.

But there is concern about a lack of membership, or participation, by veterans of the gulf war, as well as the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

"Do they show up at the clubs for functions?," asks Pete Brown, Commander of VFW Post 1212. "If it's a special function, sure. But, every day, they don't, because of the economy. They don't have the money to do the things they did before."

The Veterans of Foreign Wars post has aggressively been seeking new membership and participation, and says it reached its full membership goal for this year.