Presidential rivals John McCain and Barack Obama are reaching out for the votes of Virginia's veterans.

At news conferences across the state, both campaigns yesterday announced endorsements from retired military officials.

Virginia Veterans for McCain is led by Paul Galanti of Richmond, a Navy aviator held prisoner in North Vietnam with McCain, the putative Republican nominee.

Thomas Beres of Leesburg, an Air Force pilot who fought in the first Iraq war, is the head of Virginia Veterans for Obama.