After months of construction and fundraising, a Centre County father's monument to his late son, a health education center, finally got its grand opening Wednesday.
6 News brought you the initial story of David O'Connell back in April. We caught up with David's father, Don, on Wednesday before the opening.
After Don lost his son David on Jan. 17, 2021, he looked to construct a legacy for David and his late friend, Brandon Koppenhaver.
On Wednesday, Don got to unveil that legacy to a supportive community.
David was a 16-year-old junior firefighter for the Port Matilda Volunteer Fire Company, and a Boy Scout in Troop 32 in State College.
"After he committed suicide, we decided to take and build a new health education building here at Seven Mountains Scout Camp in his memory, in the hopes of reminding children that there is help out there, that they don't need to take that drastic step," Don told 6 News. "And hopefully him and his best friend, Brandon, who committed suicide a year later, this memory of theirs will help prevent future tragedy."
While the David O'Connell Health Education Building will serve as a health center for those visiting the Seven Mountains Boy Scout Camp in Spring Mills, it will especially zero in on mental health education for scouts.
"There's a bulletin board on the front of the building. That's gonna have mental health information, including the toll-free number to call if you're experiencing a mental health crisis, which is open 24/7...for them," Don explained. "And then the camp itself is gonna have a mental health mini-badge where the students are gonna learn a little bit about mental health."
It took and Don and his team only four months to construct the building. But as the saying goes: it takes a village.
"I'm extremely humbled by the 30, 35 companies that gave money time or labor to this building up. It's about a $160,000 to $170,000 building that was built on bootstrap budget of a tenth of that because of all the generous donations from the community."
And all those people who donated to the project witnessed the ribbon-cutting Wednesday.
"So now, they can see what fruit of their labor truly is by coming and seeing the finished product."
6 News asked Don if he thinks David would be proud to see what he accomplished in his name.
"Yeah, I think he'd be very proud," Don replied, beginning to choke up. "Both Dave and his friend Brandon would be very happy to know that their suicides led to this."
If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with mental health, you can call the National Suicide Hotline at (800) 273-8255 or check its website.