Left to right: Steven Green, president of AM Rotary; Lance Welliver, Parks and Recreation Dept. director; Jordan Grady, Butler Chamber director; Greg Haughey, Bill Westerman, Butler Commissioner Kevin Boozel at Holly Shelter in Alameda Park Thursday.

To many residents and officials, Butler County has it all. But Kevin Boozel decided one thing was missing.

Boozel, a county commissioner and Harrisville Volunteer Fire Department firefighter, realized there is no memorial for police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel countywide who have died in the line of duty.

So, being the type of individual to act on his convictions, Boozel formed a committee last year and went to work.

His idea was to build a picnic pavilion that could be used for free by first responders and to add a first responder memorial that would display the names of county responders who sacrificed their lives in pursuit of their jobs.

Boozel enlisted the help of retired Adams Township Police Chief Bill Westerman, former Butler Township Volunteer Fire District Chief Greg Haughey and paramedic crew chief Teak Baker of Cranberry Township EMS in forming the committee.

He then approached Butler AM Rotary President Steven Green to ask if the nonprofit organization could manage the donation and corporate sponsorship side of the project.

“When the Rotary accepted the project, they automatically became committee members,” Boozel said.