Local veterans groups are calling young veterans to duty.

DeKalb’s veterans group members, many of them veterans of World War II, are passing away.

The groups need young members to continue raising money to help local veterans and their families with veteran causes, such as care packages and funerals.

The local VFW post has six more members than last year, but members are lost every year, said Paul Kallemback, commander of VFW Post 2287.

The post, 421 Oak St., has 117 members. There are 7,000 members in the DeKalb district, Kallemback said.

Though the VFW does not need more members for financial reasons, the group is interested in recruiting new members, said Sr. Vice Comdr. Miles Floit.

“We are actively seeking out new members,” Floit said, “mostly through word of mouth.”

The VFW sends care packages to troops in Iraq. The packages include toothbrushes, Slim Jims and anything else a soldier may want.

The group hopes the soldiers will return from Iraq and become active in the VFW, Floit said.

Kallemback said the VFW tries to maintain the same membership numbers from year-to-year.

Veterans who have served in a foreign country can become VFW members by presenting a copy of their DD214, a form given to soldiers when they leave active duty.

American Legion Post 66, 1204 S. Fourth St., also welcomes new members.