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Photo by Melissa Lampert.

Santa Clarita To Discuss Veterans Historical Plaza Plan

Santa Clarita City Council will discuss Tuesday whether a new memorial concept for veterans is appropriate for Veterans Historical Plaza in Newhall, officials said Monday.


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The drive for the monument is being organized by Bill Reynolds, a local veteran who was also featured in a recent Vietnam War documentary, “Boys of 67.”

A city staff recommendation was to deny the plan to put a large granite “V” at the current site, according to the meeting agenda. The “V” was meant to represent all 50 veterans who have lost their life since World War II, Reynolds said, and would have the names of each one etched around depictions of America’s battles..

Instead, the city’s Parks Commission decided to pass the decision along to Santa Clarita City Council, which has heard “push-back” from residents, according to Mayor Bob Kellar.

Reynolds expressed frustration Monday with what he felt were unnecessary delays, given the fact that he had garnered support for his plan from the Veterans Historical Plaza Committee, which he’s on, and the former president of that board, Duane Harte, who died last November.

However, city officials said they’ve met resistance to changing the Veterans Historical Plaza from those who raised money, conducted outreach and worked on the current layout for the Newhall site.

“‘Is there a more appropriate location?’ I think that’s the question being discussed,” said Rick Gould, director of the city’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department. “I think from the staff perspective, there was a fairly exhaustive public outreach process (for the original plan for the Newhall site). And those founders fought through many of these issues, as far as memorials, versus etched names.”

There are a lot of different opinions on how to approach recognizing and honoring veterans, he explained, which is why the city is using the procedure it is.

The city’s policy regarding the Veterans Historical Plaza would only apply to that specific site, Gould said, adding that an additional memorial could be placed on private property without city regulation.

Kellar, a former Green Beret himself, said he was in favor of supporting veterans, but the city needs to respect the work and effort of those who planned the Veterans Historical Plaza and solicited funds with a specific intent for the design.

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Reynolds said community residents have stepped up and offered to pitch in to cover the cost of the monument, which is expected to be about $50,000.

The mayor said he’d await Tuesday’s discussion before making up his mind, but it’s important that anything added would be “consistent with the original goals for Veterans Historical Plaza.”

 

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Santa Clarita To Discuss Veterans Historical Plaza Plan

One comment

  1. There are several errors in this report.

    The Emmy nominated documentary was a National Geographic documentary named “Brothers in War” not the book titled “The Boy’s of ’67”. “Brothers in War” can be seen on Netflix.

    The original monument concept last summer was a V shaped granite structure V for valor, but that preliminary idea was promptly changed to a traditional style monument complete with outstanding laser artwork depicting images from WWII to present… along with the engraved names of 50 fallen warriors who gave the ultimate sacrifice protecting our freedom.

    Rick Gould said the SCV Veterans Memorial Committee must approve changes at our Veterans Historical Plaza and that approval was obtained via signed letter by President Duane in last August 2015. Next Rick Gould directed us to obtain a design, specifications and cost. This was accomplished December.

    Months later after obtaining wide community support from Veteran organization SCV businesses, and citizens Rick Gould inexplicably rejected our proposal, However the Parks and Rec’s Commissioners saw fit to pass the project to City Council.

    So here we are with this noble project facing 5 City Council Member’s decision Tuesday evening in City Council Chambers. Who among these five will reject honoring SCV’s heroes who gave up all of their tomorrows for all of our todays. One major question: will Council Member Dante Acosta and Gold Star dad recuse himself even when there is absolutely no credible conflict of interest?

    Just who are these unnamed, faceless people who are pushing back; let them step forward and publicly state why they would block honoring our heroes.

    Stay tuned folks, it’s gonna get interesting!

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About Perry Smith

Perry Smith is a print and broadcast journalist who has won several awards for his focused, hyperlocal community coverage in several different regions of the country. In addition to five years of experience covering the Santa Clarita Valley, Smith, a San Fernando Valley native, has worked in newspapers and news websites in Los Angeles, the Northwest, the Central Valley and the South, before coming to KHTS in 2012. To contact Smith, email him at Perry@hometownstation.com.