Preserving our local history has long been a priority for our community. We’ve enjoyed the benefit of families who have lived here for generations, an active historical society and the documentary talents of folks like Leon Worden who work to keep the records of our past alive and accessible.

We are now on the precipice of another wonderful opportunity to honor our community’s history by memorializing those who have served and sacrificed for our nation. Led by my neighbor and friend Bill Reynolds, a group of local veterans and their families whose service spans decades from World War II to Desert Storm and Afghanistan have come together to promote a Fallen Warriors Memorial to be erected in the city’s Memorial Park.

The piece itself is a beautiful granite wall with etchings of acts of heroism spanning our nation’s conflicts on one side and on the other will list the names of our community’s fallen.

As the granddaughter and daughter of veterans, a long-time local resident, and as a local school board member, I believe it is essential that we make every effort not only to honor those we’ve lost but also to commemorate their contribution to our shared history in a tangible and meaningful way that is accessible to our whole community.

As the City Council takes up this issue again this week to push it across the finish line, I commend them for honoring the passion and dedication of our local veterans and the numerous community leaders and businesses who have pledged to fund and install this memorial.

The Fallen Warriors Memorial will be another shining example of our deeply rooted sense of community and our commitment to preserve our history.

Christy Smith is a Newhall School Board member and candidate for state Assembly.