Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Deb Arens of Hancock points out a relative on the new honor roll for veterans in Hubbell, which was unveiled at a dedication ceremony Monday.

HUBBELL — As crowds remembered the fallen on Memorial Day, a new honor roll of combat veterans in Hubbell is helping make sure their names aren’t lost to history.

“They could be your neighbors, your parents, your grandparents,” said Charlie Matson, who along with Carl Deiro, a fellow member of Hubbell Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6256, spearheaded the project. “If you’re looking at the wall, and you see your name on there and you have family members with you, maybe tell them the reason your name is on there, so they’ll have an idea … I know for the vets, we don’t like talking about it, but at some point we should probably share the stories, so somebody knows.”

The memorial bears the names of combat veterans from Hubbell, Tamarack City, Torch Lake Township and Osceola Township.

It replaces the original wall, which was dedicated in 1944 with 200 names. That memorial was taken down decades ago, possibly for maintenance. Its whereabouts are still unknown.

But a team of three volunteers was able to track down the original list of names. And as people came in to suggest more names for the walls, three volunteers did historical research to confirm them.

The new memorial boasts 490 names, with room for more. They also bought pavers on the walkway to fund construction and ongoing upkeep, which are still available. Many of them are inscribed with the names of veterans from outside the direct area who were not eligible for the wall itself.

“If it wasn’t for the people in the town, patriots and the other people across the country, this would have never happened,” Matson said. “I get phone calls and letters from people all over America.”

The memorial sits on a lot across from the VFW post owned by Torch Lake Township. When Matson and Deiro brought the project to the township last fall, the board immediately agreed to support it, Supervisor Brian Cadwell said.

“Their efforts have revitalized the memory of those who have given their lives so that we may all live free,” he said. “The results are nothing short of spectacular, as you shall soon see, and provide a very fitting place of honor for those whose names appear here on it … this memorial will be a source of community pride for decades to come and a reminder of the bravery of those who laid down their lives for all of us.”

State Rep. Greg Markkanen, an Army veteran, paid tribute to those service members who gave their lives.

“They took an oath, they raised their right hand to take an oath to defend the nation against all enemies, and they paid the ultimate price,” he said. “This day is set aside to remember them, both men and women.”

Once the ceremony ended, people lined up to look at the memorial. When they found a name, they tapped the glass to show others, and often pulled out phones to grab a picture.

Deb Arens’ stepfather is on the wall, as is her grandfather and her daughter’s father.

The importance of being there on Memorial Day is “to remember them and honor them,” she said.