Working to finalize the design, front and back, of the Fallen Warriors monument, Bill Reynolds said he was hopeful Santa Clarita will sign off on the design and addition of a pergola at the city council meeting Tuesday.
Reynolds, the veteran who originally proposed the monument’s construction and The Signal’s Director of Veteran Affairs, said the monument will honor some 50 SCV residents who perished in war from WWI to the present.
“It was so gratifying to see the city council approve the granite monument on Aug. 23 and then for us to be able to follow up by pursuing community contributions, which the city council required,” Reynolds said.
By mid-February a grassroots effort to raise funds for the monument resulted in the collection of $55,554 in donations from 175 contributors in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Estimated cost of the granite marker is $51,800, of which a 50 percent down payment has already been made, Reynolds said.
“It was heartwarming to see how the community stepped up. Within 71 days we had $50,000, now we have more than $55,500,” Reynolds said.
“It was just so amazing how many people stepped up in so short a time. It proves that this community wants this fallen warriors monument.”
Organizers are working with Congressman Steve Knight’s office to confirm the names of the warriors the Santa Clarita organizers have identified as having fallen in WWI, WWII, Korean, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
If approved Tuesday, funding for the pergola itself is expected to come from the city. Any surplus funds from the community drive, however, will be donated to the city to help offset costs, Reynolds said.
“I’m very hopeful that city council will provide final approval of our pergola extension and the front and back of our monument design,” he said.
