Kevin Boozel recalls the dedication and kindness of a young fireman who had returned to retrieve a forgotten glove from Boozel's home after responding to a chimney fire several years ago.

Boozel, who is one of Butler County's three commissioners, chatted at length then with the Pine Township, Venango County, Volunteer Fire Department firefighter, whose father was the chief.

“He was just the nicest kid,” Boozel said.

Two days later, he was burned on duty and died in a burn unit a few days afterward.

“That stuck with me,” Boozel said. “I thought 'if he's doing this, why shouldn't I?'”

Boozel has been a volunteer with the Harrisville Volunteer Fire Department ever since, and he now wants to build a first responder picnic shelter and accompanying memorial to all first responders who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.

“That's how this began,” Boozel said of the young firefighter's death and short life.

The line-of-duty-death monument, which Boozel hopes can be built in Alameda Park, would memorialize all county firefighters, police officers and emergency medical services personnel who have perished while on duty.

He has formed a committee comprised of himself; Bill Westerman, former Adams Township police chief; Greg Haughey; Lance Welliver, county parks and recreation director; and a member of the Butler AM Rotary.

Boozel said the two Butler Rotary groups have committed to help raise funds and act as the fiduciary branch of the committee.

He expects the first responder pavilion and line-of-duty-death monument to cost between $350,000 and $400,000.

“It would shed light on the true sacrifice these volunteers make every day,” Boozel said of the project.

The pavilion would be free to police, firefighters and EMS personnel and their families, Boozel said.

Should the project move forward, Boozel hopes to dedicate the pavilion and monument at the 2024 Can-Am Police-Fire Games, which are set to be held in Butler County.

The committee will meet in January with the Rotary groups, Boozel said, and is prepared to begin raising corporate funding for the project.

“It's a way to give the public a glimpse of (first responders') sacrifice and maybe spark more interest in this trade,” Boozel said.

He said public donations will not be accepted until the project is approved by the board of commissioners and a definite location is chosen.