City Council unanimously approved Tuesday moving forward with a new memorial for Santa Clarita Valley veterans who’ve died in combat at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Newhall.
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The proposal was originally brought forward by local veteran activist Bill Reynolds more than a year ago, and then debated at length regarding its potential location and design within the existing memorial.
“I believe we ended up here with a project that we are all pleased with,” said Mayor Bob Kellar.
The plan will include the current tally of 50 names, and additional efforts are being looked at with respect to vetting the list by all available means.
The project is being funded by community contributions, which are currently being solicited, in addition to a commitment by local developer and Vietnam veteran Charlie Rasmussen.
The approval gives the group the go-ahead it needed to raise the additional contributions necessary to make the wall a reality, Reynolds said, noting numerous community members have already pledged support.
Rasmussen pledged to install our Fallen Warriors monument at no cost by using retired craftsmen who are Veterans themselves, Reynolds said.
“As a young man who fought in Vietnam and experienced brutal combat in which many of my brothers in arms gave the ultimate sacrifice, this is what we do,” Reynolds said. “We never forget our fallen brothers. By the grace of God, I barely made it home alive and for many years now I have pledged to live a life they would want for themselves and for we who survived.”