SENIOR PRESSES ON FOR VALLEY MONUMENT TO LOCAL VETERANS MEMORIAL CAMPAIGN MAKES PROGRESS WITH CITY COUNCIL'S OK ON PLAZA PLANS.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Sometimes, Harry Gratz wonders if he's fighting the good fight, or fighting a losing battle.

As with many in the Santa Clarita Valley, he would like to see a veterans memorial somewhere soon. He writes letters every other day to newspapers and to city, state and federal officials. He's collected signatures. He speaks about it any chance he gets. And all the while, two enemies have crept in on him.

Time is claiming the lives of World War II veterans at a rapid rate. And money to honor them with a local memorial always seems to run out.

``We need something there desperately,'' said Gratz, an 85-year-old World War II veteran from Canyon Country. ``We don't have to have such an elaborate place.''

After more than a decade of trying to build a memorial to honor Santa Clarita's own, local veterans were pleased when the Santa Clarita City Council earlier this year approved plans for the Veterans Memorial Plaza. The plaza is slated to be built on a triangular half-acre lot bounded by Newhall Avenue and Market and Walnut streets. It will include groves of oak trees, a fountain, trellises and a promenade.

An updated rendering of the project is set to be released and displayed at the park by Wednesday, city parks officials said.

The city estimates the entire project to cost $500,000 pending approval by City Council. But because of possible state budget impacts, it is unclear if the City Council will consider the project during its next budget session, said parks administrator Tom Reilly.

``I've been doing parks and planning for 20 years, and I've never come across a project that has been so emotionally charged,'' Reilly said. ``These things always take time, and they always involve a lot of volunteer support. I know it's been frustrating for World War II vets, but we do have maintenance concerns and liability concerns. But I'm very upbeat about the prospect of private funds and the city matching it.''

Warren Johnson, a Korean War veteran and founder of the Historic Veterans Memorial Committee, said the city is closer than ever to supporting the plaza.

``For 12 years we've carried this quest to get this memorial built,'' Johnson said. ``Now we are ready to launch fund raising. The reason why we say launch is now that we have the land and the plans, we ask the council to give the Veterans Memorial Plaza the highest priority, to assist us in fund raising.''

The veterans committee continues to sell commemorative bricks, and once the process of construction begins, more residents will see where their donations have gone, Johnson said. So far, about $8,000 has been collected, he said.

``Some people who have been donating for 12 years will see that we didn't give up,'' Johnson said. ``They will see we will persevere.''

For veterans such as Gratz, however, time and money could be saved if the city simplified its plans. ``All we need is a small place where people can get together and talk,'' he said. ``All we need is some cement, benches, a monument where you can say a prayer. So many veterans are dying every day. There are not enough cemeteries for them. We need a voice here.''

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) The plans for Veterans Memorial Plaza show a site bordered by Newhall Avenue and Market and Walnut streets.

(2 -- color) World War II veteran Harry Gratz, 85, stands near the half- acre lot for the proposed memorial park in Santa Clarita.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer