On Wednesday evening, residents of Santa Clarita gathered at Central Park for the City’s annual Evening of Remembrance, a solemn ceremony honoring local youth whose lives were tragically cut short in traffic-related incidents.

The Evening of Remembrance began with the Walk of Remembrance at 7:15 p.m., led by Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Captain Brandon Barclay. 

Community members then gathered at the Youth Grove, a half-acre memorial featuring 123 concrete pillars resembling tree stumps, each representing a young life lost too soon. 

Mayor Bill Miranda delivered opening remarks, reflecting on the immeasurable weight of the losses represented at the Youth Grove.

Santa Clarita City Council Members and Representative George Whitesides gathered at the annual Evening of Remembrance (Sophia Lesseos KHTS)

“There are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors. They were deeply loved, and they are deeply missed,” Miranda said. “There are 123 names commemorated here, 123 too many. This peaceful space gives us a place to remember, reflect and to recommit ourselves to making sure no more names are added here. Together, let’s create a community where to know more means no more, no more young lives lost behind the wheel.”

The ceremony also included a reading of the names of all 123 individuals memorialized at the Youth Grove.

Candles were lit at the Evening of Remembrance when family members and friends heard their loved ones name called in the long list of lives lost (Sophia Lesseos KHTS)

Among the speakers was Alice Reynolds, who, along with her husband Tom, helped create the Youth Grove after losing their two sons, Tim and Danny, in a 2000 crash caused by reckless driving. 

“Even after 25 years, the pain never goes away,” she said. “We can’t forget this horrific, everlasting nightmare that February night in 2000… So we tell our story over and over to as many teens as possible, hoping they get the message to drive safe so their lives will not be cut short.”

Flowers were left at loved ones ‘stumps’ during the Evening of Remembrance (Sophia Lesseos KHTS)

She urged attendees to use the night as a reminder to make safe choices behind the wheel, cautioning against distractions, speeding, or drunk driving.

“Take a moment and look around you at the tree stumps that are symbolic of our children never to grow,” Reynolds said. “Every decision you make in a vehicle affects the life and safety of everyone around you. Please remember this commitment to drive safely each and every time you get into a car.”

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