Two memorial obelisks installed at the entrance to Santa Clarita Central Park were revealed to the public on Friday by the families of the two children who were killed in the Saugus High School Shooting.
The families of Saugus High School Shooting victims Gracie Muehlberger and Dominic Blackwell were joined by members of the community and local officials on Friday morning for the official unveiling of a memorial plaza built in their honor near the entrance to Santa Clarita Central Park.
“On November 14, 2019, our beautiful children were murdered,” said Frank Blackwell, Dominic’s father. “Three of their best friends were critically injured, and in that moment, the innocence and levity that filled every inch of Saugus high school was suddenly torn away, and we all felt it that day.”
Frank Blackwell embraces an attendee.
See Related: A Community United: Remembering The Saugus High School Shooting
“We come together today to officially unveil and dedicate this special place, called memorial plaza, along with the primary centerpieces, the two custom-built obelisks that honor both Gracie and Dominic equally,” said Bryan Muehlberger, Gracie’s father. “This memorial also serves as a reminder of the impact each of them have had and continue to have on our community.”
The Santa Clarita City Council approved the design of a memorial plaza at Central Park in January, which includes two 11-foot obelisks, with murals on each side made from mosaic tiles meant to memorialize 15-year-old Gracie and 14-year-old Dominic.
Dominic, We love you more than Spongebob loves jellyfishing, mr crabs loves money, and squidward loves his clarinet. And we always will. pic.twitter.com/6YDY5YLfHT
— dmbfoundation (@dmbfoundation27) June 4, 2021
“We cannot thank you enough. Your words have kept us going. Your strength has given us strength,” Blackwell said. “Today as we come together once again as a community united, as friends, family, neighbors and peers, as mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, to begin a new journey fo healing, a journey of healthy mourning, shared grieving and quiet comfort of solidarity.”
See Related: Saugus High Teacher Discusses ‘Keeping On’ Following Deadly Shooting
Several survivors of the Saugus High School shooting joined the event alongside the Muehlberger and Blackwell families,
“When you look at the obelisks, remember that they are more than just an object,” said Mia Tretta, Dominic’s best friend and survivor of the shooting. “They are a representation of two extraordinary people.”
For more information on the Gracie Strong Foundation, the Dominic Michael Blackwell Foundation, or their mission to give back to the community, visit their websites.
Anyone seeking information about mental health resources available in the Santa Clarita Valley can click here. There are 24-hour phone numbers available. In the event of an emergency, 911 should always be the first call. Those looking to speak with someone can call:
- 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- 1-800-854-7771 for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
- 1-866-488-7386 for The Trevor Project for LGBTQ+ youth
- 1-800-784-2433 for the Treatment Advocacy Center
- 661-259-9439 for the SCV Child & Family Center
- 661-296-4444 for the Way Out Recovery SCV
- 661-288-4800 for the Santa Clarita Valley Mental Health Center
- 661- 765-8445 for Insight Treatment Santa Clarita
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