In the heart of Newhall at the Veterans Historical Plaza, City Of Santa Clarita officials unveiled the new ‘Fallen Warriors Monument’ Wednesday to honor all known and unknown Santa Clarita residents who were killed in action.

Dozens of residents assembled at the plaza on Walnut St. to see the revealing of the Fallen Warrior Monument and attend the special ceremony hosted by the City.

The ceremony paid respect to the fallen warriors of the U.S. military by a reading of the names of Santa Clarita residents who died on the battlefield.

Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth hosted the event, and described the city’s level of commitment to veterans.

“Santa Clarita has a reputation for honoring our veterans our active duty,” said Smyth. “Adding this Fallen Warrior Monument, it’s just another testament of how this community loves our veterans, supports our military and won’t ever forget the sacrifice that they have made.”

State Assemblyman and Gold Star Father Dante Acosta represented the Gold Star Families at the event, and thanked the community for honoring the fallen and their family members.

“Veterans Plaza has always been a special place, said Acosta. “My wife and I as gold star parents just want to say thank you to the community, thank you to the city, especially Bill Reynolds and others that made this possible with their time, and to honor our son Rudy and many other Gold Star Family members that are here, and our Fallen.”

Additional, active and retired military members were distinguished by the City of Santa Clarita, when they were given the opportunity to read the monuments listed names aloud.

Vietnam War Veteran and SCV Veterans Memorial, Inc. President Bill Reynolds fathered the project and has been collaborating with the City to honor the fallen warriors; however he couldn’t be in attendance at the event Wednesday because he was in Vietnam representing American veterans at a special ceremony.

Santa Clarita City Councilman Bob Kellar attended the event to represent Reynolds in his absence, and read from Reynolds’ notes on the process of organizing and raising the monument.

“This community for year and years has been very supportive of all of our veterans, as evidenced by this beautiful Veterans Plaza that we created about 15 years ago,” said Kellar. “Today we’re adding a very special monument, and that is to all of those military members that we have lost in the various wars.”

Retired U.S. Army Chaplain Colonel Amos Clemmons, a Vietnam War veteran, delivered the invocation to bless the Fallen Warriors Monument.

Alesia Humphries and Steve Dole gave exhilarating performances in tribute to the fallen.

The Ronald Reagan Marine Corps League of Simi Valley present the colors and performed a 21-gun salute after the ceremony.

Following the program, the Fallen Warriors Monument was officially unveiled to the public by local Gold Star families from the Santa Clarita Valley.

For questions or information about the Fallen Warriors Monument call (661) 255-4301 or click here.

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