Liam James Smith grew up in Framingham, Massachusetts and moved to Ireland during the Summer of 2006.

A fumbling of communication and an intercontinental move resulted in Liam's childhood friends losing touch with him after he had moved across the Atlantic.

Liam was able to restart his life in the small town of Dingle, Ireland. He eventually attended University College Cork, made many close friends, and studied medicine, with aspirations to one day become a Doctor.

Despite a seemingly bright future, Liam lost his life to suicide just a month after his twenty-second birthday.

An obituary was a horrifying way to finally "find" the childhood friend that hadn't been heard from in nearly a decade, but it bridged a connection between Liam's worlds.

Liam was a fiercely loyal human being who was always modest about his natural intellect. Liam had an impervious moral compass. He was the boy who could ride a bike and read a book before his peers but would never boast about it. Instead, Liam would patiently and kindly teach others.

Liam flourished as a young student in Framingham; he had many close friends and enjoyed participating in school theatrical productions. He famously drew pictures on his 8th-grade standardized test, the MCAS, as he knew the state-wide exam wouldn't affect his education in Ireland.

Liam's friends in Ireland shared that his bright light echoed into his adolescence and adulthood. Liam was studying to become a Doctor and use his intellect and hard work ethic to better his fellow man.

It is a tragedy that Liam Smith isn't alive today to share his light with his family, friends, and the world.

With the help of the Framingham Parks & Recreation department, a new bench will be installed at the Barry Bograd Memorial Field in Liam's memory and honor. Bograd Field is adjacent to Walsh Middle School, which Liam attended before his move to Ireland. The bench will be frequented by Framingham's residents and will serve as a reminder of the bright light Liam shined on this community and the world. The last line of the bench inscription will read, "Sit here and you are not alone", as a reminder that Liam is always with us and that there's always help for those who need it.

This GoFundMe goal will cover all expenses for Liam's memorial: the bench purchase, inscription, and installation.

Please consider donating to the installation of this memorial, but more importantly, please also consider donating to Samaritans. Samaritans is an organization based out of the UK & Ireland that is on the front line of suicide prevention.