Its Membership Dwindling, Holmdel VFW 5918 Closes

Holmdel Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5918 Commander Fred Varlese said it was a sad decision, but the day had come for the Holmdel VFW to finally close down.

The last remaining active members voted last month at a meeting at the Holmdel Fire House #1 on Main Street to dissolve the group. The Hazlet VFW Post 4303 has unoffiically told the Holmdel vets they are welcome to join their larger post, Varlese said.

"It's sad, but that is the way it is today," said Varlese at Holmdel's Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, where the decision to dissolve was announced by longtime former VFW commander Art Davey before the crowd assembled for the annual remembrance ceremony.

Although there were officially 40 life members, only four guys had been attending the occasional meetings, Varlese said. "We're dying off. I'm the baby, and I'm 70 years old," said the Koren War veteran.

The Holmdel veterans will still be around, he promised.

"We won't abandon Holmdel. We'll all be here for Memorial Day and Veterans' Day, but as regular veterans," he said.

The members would still hold onto their hats, embroidered with the Holmdel Post 5918 and can wear them if they wish.

The Hazlet VFW 4303 was established in 1953. Its commander is John Conti. 

Quartermaster Rudy Makson said the end had been coming.

"We lost two-thirds of our membership, people have died or moved away" he said. "We didn't have enough officers to fill out positions," said Makson.

He said he was looking forward to joining the Hazlet VFW. "It's a nice post. They  have a bar with a kitchen and a Ladies Auxiliary," he said. They have a website and Facebook page. Upcoming events include a June 15 Day at Monmouth Park with barbeque, and an August 3 golf outing at Pebble Creek.

The Holmdel Post did not have its own home, which made it difficult to attract members, he said.