The VFW Harold Daley Post No.1333 has been an iconic building overlooking Wesley Lake in Asbury Park for more than 100 years. It has a long storied history as an armory and place where soldiers were inducted into the army.
For the last several decades it has been a VFW post where members held meetings, celebrations and special occasions for the New Jersey National Guard heading off to war, most recently in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Post members officially moved all items out of the building last week.
The building was purchased two years ago by developer Douglas Jamel who graciously allowed the VFW to continue holding its meetings and events there.
“He held in there for us,” Jameson said. “He said, ‘I’ll give you time to do what you have to do.’”
It is uncertain what is in store for the building.
Post Commander Robert Jameson had been looking for another location when through the state organization they were able to purchase the VFW at 1515 Corlies Ave. in Neptune several months ago.
Since then the Neptune building, which was a VFW post which has not been in operation, has been gutted and renovated. It will be ready for the group to move in in about a month, Jameson said.
For now the VFW post has been renting space at Camp Evans and installed two trailers at the Corlies Avenue site to store belongings.
Jameson is eager to make the move and said the new site will be designed to allow for community activities.
He said there will be parking in the rear of the property and a gazebo for outdoor events. A fence and security system will also be installed.
“It will be state of the art and we want it to be for the community, for all the surrounding communities,” he said. “I never thought I’d see this.”
Jameson said the post is number one in membership in the district.
“We are at 111 percent,” he said. “It’s outstanding.”
One of the first events planned will be a somber memorial to the victims of Covid-19.
“We lost three comrades at the post,” Jameson said. “We have had no opportunity to give them a memorial service.”
