SCOUT COMES TO VETS' AID HART HIGH TEEN RALLIES FORCES TO CLEAR LAND FOR MEMORIAL TO U.S. SOLDIERS.

Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer

NEWHALL - Determined to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, 15-year-old Stephen Mitchell has rallied the support of city officials, local businesses and fellow Scouts to help erect a half-acre veterans war memorial.

The 19,000-square-foot site, a triangular area at Newhall Avenue at Market and Walnut streets, is the future home of the Historical Veterans' Memorial Plaza, an outdoor venue honoring American war veterans throughout history.

Learning about the memorial last summer, Mitchell got an idea - together with his troop, Castaic's 583, he will clear the vacant site of asphalt, concrete and shrubs, saving the Historical Veterans' Memorial Committee as much as $10,000 in site preparation costs.

``I had a couple of other projects that fell through,'' said the Hart High sophomore. ``But then I was at a Fourth of July parade and there was this man, dressed in Colonial-style regalia. He was handing out fliers about building the memorial.''

The man, Warren Johnson, a 72-year-old veteran of the Korean War, was celebrating his patriotism that day. Later, when he received a call from the teen-ager, Johnson drew pride from the patriotic spirit of the country's youth.

``I'm just thrilled that a boy of 15 years old can act with such maturity and leadership,'' said Johnson, a longtime Newhall resident and co- chairman of the committee. ``I'm deeply moved because I've seen the way this young man has been steadfast in his pursuit of this project.''

In order to attain the rank of Eagle Scout - the highest achievement in Scouting - Mitchell must select and supervise a project that demonstrates leadership, responsibility and organizational skill.

Eagle Scout candidates must choose a project that benefits the community, spending a minimum of 100 hours to realize the goal.

With help from the city of Santa Clarita, the veterans' committee and Los Angeles County, Mitchell estimates they will begin clearing the site in the spring.

Johnson hopes to see the plaza completed in November 2002, but cautions there are still many hurdles to pass, such as shoring up the plans and holding community planning meetings.

Mitchell has already secured donations from local businesses, including the use of a back hoe, a dump truck and other equipment essential to removing concrete and earth.

``I'm supposed to supervise, get all the parts together and provide leadership for the Scouts,'' Mitchell said. ``But I'm going to help, too. I like doing that kind of stuff.''

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(color) Boy Scout Stephen Mitchell, left, and other members of Troop 583 will be cleaning out land for a war memorial in Newhall.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News