The Santa Clarita community gathered Wednesday night to take part in the annual “Evening of Remembrance” to honor the lives of youth lost in traffic-related accidents.
This year marked the city’s 16th annual Evening of Remembrance, with last year’s taking place on a virtual platform in the midst of the pandemic.
On Wednesday, families, friends and community leaders arrived at Central Park in Saugus to take part in the walk of remembrance around Central Park, holding banners and signs dedicated to lost loved ones.
The walk led to the Youth Grove in Central Park, the half-acre memorial for youth who have lost their lives in traffic accidents. During the evening flowers and electronic candles were placed on every pillar in the grove.
At the monument, a stage for speakers and performers was set up, as well as a large projector screen that showed a slideshow and reading of every name at the Youth Grove.
Mayor Pro Tem Laurene Weste started the night as the first speaker.
“116 young people are honored here and may we never forget them,” Weste said. “I urge everyone to take a stand to be cautious and aware when driving so we can further avoid heart-breaking loss.”
Throughout the night speakers emphasized the importance of safe driving and how many of the accidents that led to the 116 lives lost could have been prevented.
Alice Reynolds, mother of Tim and Danny Reynolds who are among the names at the Youth Grove after a deadly 2000 crash, led the candlelight portion of the evening.
“As we light our candles in the memory of our children, siblings and friends, let this light signifies ever-present love in our hearts,” Reynolds said.
Performances included a small orchestra who performed “Amazing Grace” at the beginning of the service, Kaylee Miller who signed the song “Who You’d Be Today” in American Sign Language and siblings Alisha and Marco Serrano performing a prayer.
According to city officials the Youth Grove contains 116 pillars that resemble tree stumps to symbolize a life cut short. Each pillar has a plaque with the name of the person killed.
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