Keeping History Alive
Major B’s General Quarters, a World War II museum and gallery, in nearby Asbury Park, New Jersey
A Veteran’s passion for World War II benefits the masses
Veteran Brian Boyce has opened Major B’s General Quarters, a World War II museum and gallery, in nearby Asbury Park, New Jersey.
As a kid, Navy Veteran Brian Boyce was fascinated with World War II. “I read every book I could get my hands on as a kid and I watched every movie that came out, including documentaries,” he said. “World War II is the single most important event in global history.”
Boyce, a New Jersey resident, served in the Navy for over two years as a Boiler Tech on the USS Forrestal in the early 1970s. Then he served in the Merchant Marine for 20 years, before starting his own painting contracting business.
What began with building scale models and using his knowledge of World War II to “chill out,” a suggestion made by his health care team at VA New York Harbor Healthcare System’s Brooklyn Campus, turned into a detailed collection that outgrew his home. He was encouraged by fellow Veterans and historians to take his models – built-to-scale ships and tanks set in dioramas complete with historical information – to the public and share it.
“With the dioramas and Veteran memorial stories that I have collected and are on display, including Veterans’ personal memorabilia, I hope to keep these stories and experiences alive to educate others and future generations as the World War II Veterans begin to pass away and are no longer able to speak for themselves,” he said.
The museum’s collection includes over 300 scale models of ships, airplanes, tanks and military vehicles, and artillery representing the United States, Germany, England, Japan, Russia, and France. Several displays were formerly on view at Brookdale Community College under the auspices of the World War II Center for Studies and Conflict Resolution. The military artworks provide a natural background that relates the general story of World War II from both the Pacific and European battlefronts. In addition, the Pearl Harbor exhibit includes a relic of the USS Arizona that was sunk during the attack. The relic is from the aft deckhouse superstructure and was donated by a Pearl Harbor Survivors’ Association member.
Open to the public, the museum is located at the Harold Daley VFW Post 1333 at 701 Lake Avenue in Asbury Park on the lower level. The museum, which has handicap access, is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and can accommodate groups.
