(November 11, 2008)—War veterans have always sought one another's companionship at the local VFW ore American Legion.

However, in this day and age, some younger veterans are too busy to join the groups or don't identify with the older veterans, despite outreach efforts.

With the advent of the Internet, the days of a beer with friends at the local veterans' hall may be giving way to the computer age.

The American Legion and VFW have seen a decline in membership since a peak after the 1991 Persian Gulf War, as World War II veterans and Korean War veterans have died and both are expanding into cyberspace.

Social networking sites make it easier for individuals to find friends from the past.

Web savvy Veterans can now reconnect with members of their old unit.

In an attempt to tap into that virtual community, a public service campaign, starting Veterans Day, encourages Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to log onto a new social networking site called CommunityofVeterans.org

American Legion spokesman John Raughter says a Legion post doesn't necessarily have to be made of "bricks and mortar."