HUBBELL — The move to build a new monument in Hubbell honoring people who have served in the military is going forward.

Carl Deiro and Charlie Matson, members of Hubbell’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4624, organized the effort, which will replace a long-vanished honor roll put up after World War II veterans from Hubbell and Tamarack City.

The first installment payment has been made on the new memorial, Deiro said. It will be built by Reed Construction of Hubbell.

“We had a tremendous turnout from people, even with the headwinds we had,” he said. “It’s been great. And I definitely want to thank everybody that was involved in this.”

Deiro said the new memorial will be dedicated in May.

Donors have included former U.S. Rep. Phil Ruppe, Deiro said.

Checks for the memorial should be made payable to Honor Memorial and mailed to VFW Post 4624, PO Box 51, Hubbell, MI 49934.

Anyone with names to add to the list can submit them to Deiro or Matson. Deiro can be reached at (906) 299-0864 or cdeiro@outlook.com. Matson can be reached at (906) 296-2231 or bema659@charter.net.

People can purchase a brick to be used in paving the walkway to the memorial, which will be located across the street from the VFW post in Hubbell.

The names of combat veterans will be displayed in windows behind glass on tags 1.25 inches high and 3.5 inches long. Those will be accompanied by their military branch and the war or conflict in which they served.

Two existing bronze plaques listing those killed in action between World War I and Vietnam will be mounted in the center of the wall.

The new wall will have space for about 500 names, enough to cover everyone from the Civil War through Iraq/Afghanistan, as well as potential future conflicts.

A path of paver bricks leading to the wall will be laser-engraved with the names of people donating $50 or more.

Many of the donors have been veterans who served during peacetime, Matson said.

“They’re part of this, but unfortunately, they didn’t go into a war zone, so they can’t go on a wall itself,” he said. “But they can put their names and information on it, and they’ll be there forever.”

A similar movement has been launched in Dollar Bay. Judy Odgers is looking to repair damage to the Veterans Honor Roll at Veterans Park in Dollar Bay, which has sustained damage over the years.

“Every time there’s a big wind, I’m worried it’s going to fall down,” she said.

The monument started in 1943, when a group of local women decided to raise money to honor those who were in the service or about to join, according to a Kickstarter page for the movement. The honor roll was put up the next year in front of the school, where it stayed until being moved to Veterans Park.

To donate to the Dollar Bay honor roll, go to gofundme.com/f/dbtc-veterans-honor-roll.

The 10th-grade US history classes at Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Schools will be hosting a pancake breakfast from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the school cafeteria Nov. 19 to raise funds for the honor roll.