The City of Santa Clarita Arts & Events Office has teamed up with the Historical Veterans Memorial Committee to hold a special raffle benefiting the City’s Veterans Historical Plaza.

Funds raised will be used to complete the fabrication and installation of a bronze memorial statue commissioned for the Veterans Historical Plaza, in Downtown Newhall.

Sculpted by Santa Clarita artist Mark Henn, the bronze statue depicts Willie Johnston, a thirteen-year-old musician who enlisted as a Drummer Boy in the Civil War’s Thirds Vermont Infantry. He was awarded the first individual Medal of Honor in 1863.

The memorial statue will be installed on the edge of the circular lawn, and will face the fountains located at the south end of the Veterans Historical Plaza.

The City is raffling off a framed, premier edition giclee print by local artist and US Army veteran, William Kreutz. Kreutz is known for his nostalgic oil paintings, which reflect a romanticized image of America in the 1940s and 1950s. The signed and numbered artwork, graciously donated by the artist, is titled “Millionaire’s Row.” It depicts an idyllic lakeside summer evening sunset.

“The Arts & Events Office is pleased to assist the Committee with this project – it’s always great when artists can help their peers with projects,” said Phil Lantis, Arts & Events Administrator for the City.

Raffle tickets can be purchased for $1 in the Arts & Events Office, Suite 120, at City Hall. The raffle drawing will be held on November 13, 2005. Willie Johnston lapel pins for $5, and bumper stickers for $2 are also available and the proceeds from these items will also be used to help with the installation of the Willie Johnston memorial art piece.

For more information about the raffle, or to inquire about the project, please contact Nicki Voss Stern, Arts & Events Program Coordinator for the City of Santa Clarita, at 661/286-4079, or Pam Hogan, of the Historical Veterans Memorial Committee, at 661/251-7870.