Every year, Santa Clarita offers a reminder to residents young and old about the dangers of unsafe driving with the Evening of Remembrance in September.

The event takes place at the Youth Grove, a memorial created to remember individuals age 24 and younger who lost their lives in traffic-related crashes.

Each year, Santa Clarita and the Blue Ribbon Task Force host the Evening of Remembrance to honor the local youth who have lost their lives in traffic-related incidents and also to remind the community to be mindful and responsible while driving.

City officials are asking residents who might have a family member they would like to be memorialized to submit the information to the city by no later than July 15.

In order to submit a name to be displayed at the Youth Grove, parents must complete a signed release form and submit it to the City’s Community Services Division, located at 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway by the deadline.

“All names submitted for the Youth Grove will be presented at the annual Evening of Remembrance on pillars that mimic cut tree stumps, representing a young life cut too short on the road,” according to a city news release.

The effort is one of several local efforts to cut down on unsafe behavior behind the wheel, in addition to the Safe Drivers program that offers rides home no questions asked, and Every 15 Minutes, a program that vividly depicts how a fatal collision.

The pillars surround a central monument urging the community to “Know More” about safe driving habits and to pledge that “No More” young lives will be lost behind the wheel.

The half-acre Youth Grove memorial is dedicated to educating the community about safe driving and offers a place for reflection. It is home to 91 individual pillars, each with a plaque bearing the name of a young life lost in a traffic-related incident.

Prior to the Evening of Remembrance, community members are invited to participate in the Walk of Remembrance.  The walk will begin at 6:45 p.m. at Central Park and will reinforce the importance of safe driving.

For more information on the Youth Grove or to obtain a release form, contact Community Services at 661-250-3708 or visit Santa-Clarita.com/BlueRibbon.