Veterans groups trying to hold onto members

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Veterans groups in North Dakota are coping with dwindling numbers.

Steve Hoikkala, an Army National Guard staff sergeant, is the quartermaster for the Fargo Veterans of Foreign Wars post. He's also coordinator for eastern North Dakota military funeral honor guards.

He buries 120 veterans a month, mostly those who served in World War II and the Korean War. He says the group's numbers are "slowly getting lower," and he's trying to recruit more.

North Dakota had more than 23,000 American Legion members in 1999. Jim Deremo, the state department service officer, says the number was down to 18,575 by the end of last year.

Some groups have bucked the trend. Greg Seurer is a Vietnam veteran and a supervisor for the Disabled American Veterans. He said membership in North Dakota's 10 chapters is nearing 5,000, which is higher than ever.