Lighted folded flag banners and lighted medallion banners of the six branches of the armed forces — the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard — now adorn each of the 13 light poles on the bridge and are visible, day or night, from both east and west. They were installed Wednesday and Thursday.

New entry signs are soon to be in place at both ends of the bridge — identifying it as the Albert Habhab Veterans Memorial Bridge, named in honor of one of Fort Dodge’s most famous residents. And railings on both sides of the bridge will soon be adorned with colorful lighting and large stars that illuminate the landscape.

When sufficient funds are raised, the final phase of the renovation, the Veterans Plaza, will be constructed in a landscaped green space on the southeast corner of the bridge. It will include a curved concrete wall for seating and reflection and a donor wall recognizing businesses and individuals who contributed to the project.

Dedication of the bridge and its enhancements will take place Monday, following the annual Veterans Day program that will be held at 11 a.m. in the north parking lot of Bemrich Electric, 110 S. 21st St., adjacent to the west entrance to the bridge.

The goal of all the enhancement work is to further recognize Fort Dodge and Webster County veterans for their service to their country in a very visible way — the bridge is one of the most-traveled in the city. Many people have been busy for the past year in a project that has a goal of raising about $1 million.

“I think anytime we can take a moment and thank and honor those that have come before us, we should,” said Navy veteran Mike Larson, market president of First Interstate Bank in Fort Dodge and member of a committee that was formed to accomplish the project.

Larson said that cash contributions and in-kind donations from businesses directly involved in the project have been much appreciated. Donations to the project can be made through the bridge website — https://www.veteransbridgefd.com/

“It has been very satisfying to see the entire community support and embrace the project,” he said. “When people walk up to you on the street, unsolicited and hand you money, or ask how they can help, you know you live in a great community. We live in a great community.”

The bridge has been a major gateway from downtown to the east side of town since it was constructed in 1969 to relieve traffic backups caused by railroad trains that often blocked traffic on crossings at Fifth Avenue South and on Second Avenue North. At its inception, it was a major gateway to the Crossroads Mall and now to the Corridor Plaza and many businesses on the east side.

As the city’s mayor, Habhab had strongly advocated for the bridge and presided over its dedication. It was initially named Veterans Memorial Bridge, in honor of military veterans of the city and Webster County. That name changed a year ago, when the city announced the bridge would carry the name of the World War II veteran, who was mayor of the city for 14 years, a District Court judge and Iowa State Court of Appeals judge. He concluded his career by serving as chief judge of the Court of Appeals.

Habhab died in January at the age of 98, but Mayor Matt Bemrich remembers taking “The Judge” on a ride over the bridge last November after the announcement of its renaming in a Veterans Day ceremony at St. Edmond Catholic School.

“The day of the Veterans Day ceremony that the bridge was renamed, I was able to be part of a group that took Albert to the ceremony,” Bemrich said. “He was not aware of the naming and was just happy to be part of the day. Upon hearing of the naming, he was very emotional, and the pride of a lifetime’s work was evident in his eyes. After many well wishes and handshakes, Mike Doyle, Patrick Hickey and I were able to drive Albert over the bridge and he beamed with pride — not saying much but excited for the future of the city he loved.

“Taking Albert home after a few laps back and forth over the bridge, he opened the door to his home where his son was waiting ready for him to return. I heard him say proudly, ‘Can you believe it — they named a bridge after me.'”

The renovation project’s origins came in late 2022 when Tom Dorsey, adjutant of American Legion Post 130, said fellow veteran Sam Hartman had “bugged” him for the better part of a year about potentially decorating the bridge for veterans. Dorsey said he eventually brought the idea up at an American Legion meeting. The idea was welcomed.

“If we’re going to call it Veterans Bridge, we should have something related to veterans,” said Rich Lennon, who is a veteran of the Army and Army Reserve. “With the present state of the world, this will become more important.”

The veterans contacted Bemrich and City Manager David Fierke. The Fort Dodge Community Foundation, Webster County Department of Veterans Affairs and the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association also became involved.

The planning process began in April 2023, before the bridge was renamed.

Needed structural work on the bridge, which is 1,050 feet long and 30 feet high, was completed in 2023 and funded by the city and state. All of the veterans enhancements have been funded from donations.

“The revitalization of The Habhab Veterans Bridge is an important investment in honoring the community’s veterans and improving a key piece of local infrastructure,” Bemrich said. “Restoring and updating the bridge not only enhances safety and accessibility for all residents but also preserves a significant landmark dedicated to those who have served. By enhancing lighting, strengthening structural components, and refreshing the design, the project respects the bridge’s legacy while adapting it for future generations. This revitalization will keep the bridge as both a practical resource and a symbolic reminder of our community’s gratitude toward veterans.”

Members of the bridge committee are: Rich Lennon, an Army veteran; Joyce Lennon, Army; Denis Schulte, Army; Michelle Schulte, VFW Auxiliary; Tom Dorsey, Army; Randy Davis, Air Force; Patrick Hickey, Marine Corps; Dan Lewandowski, Army and Webster County Veteran Affairs; Michael Larson, Navy; Randy Kuhlman, Fort Dodge Community Foundation; Scott Johnson, Kallin-Johnson Monument Co.; David Fierke, city manager; and Mayor Matt Bemrich.

Larson said all of the veterans groups in the city “have been extremely involved not only in design but also in fundraising and the veterans community has been very active in the donation side as well. That’s great to see.”

Among the groups: VFW Post 1856, American Legion Post 130, Disabled American Veterans, Fort Dodge Veterans Council, Webster County Veterans Affairs, Department of Iowa Auxiliary, Marine Corps League, 133rd Test Squadron of the Iowa Air National Guard, military recruiters and the city.

Businesses involved in the actual project are Spin Markketing, Woodruff Construction and Kalin-Johnson Monument Co. The medallions placed on bridge light poles were made by Nagle Signs of Waterloo, which made similar medallions for the Des Moines Veterans Parkway. Shive Hattery, of West Des Moines, was hired to do the designs. The Fort Dodge Community Foundation serves as treasurer of the 501(c)(3) endeavor.

“Patriotic public art pieces and veteran memorial sites are an important asset for our visitors to learn about and honor the military service of past and current servicemen and -women,” said Kerrie Kuiper, executive director of Visit Fort Dodge.

“Visit Fort Dodge currently promotes visitors to enjoy veteran sites like the Webster County Freedom Rock and the Terry Moehnke Veterans Memorial Park. Both sites already serve as a location for motorcoach tour groups, leisure travelers, and travel writers to experience the community’s rich history. We anticipate the enhancements being made at Albert Habhab Veterans Memorial Bridge to add another site for these visitors to enjoy in the future.”

Visit Fort Dodge has created a specific tab on its website — DodgetheOrdinary.com — promoting veteran sites that visitors might enjoy.

“There is a niche of travelers (typically veterans themselves) who want to interact with other veterans or go to sites honoring veterans, servicemen and servicewomen,” Kuiper said. “The Albert Habhab Veterans Bridge Project was looking for a way to encourage visitors to go to their website for further information about the bridge or to visit other veteran honoring locations in the community. So our solution is to place a QR code linking to the veteran page on DodgetheOrdinary.com to be placed on their signage at the bridge.”

The QR code links to the Veterans page on the Visit Fort Dodge website that features 11 sites that have ties to veterans and have different abilities to draw visitors to town or to serve veterans when in this region.