A dry eye could not be found Tuesday night in the Slatington Library when H. Vaughn Reese's name was added to the donation plaque.

The 22-year-old Slatington resident was memorialized with a name plate funded by more than $1,000 worth of contributions made in his honor.Family and friends of the Northern Lehigh graduate attended the 6:30 p.m. program in a move of support and solidarity for parents Candace and Peter Reese of the young man lost too soon.According to Reese's mother, Candace, her son was an avid reader and had published his own written works of poetry. One such book "Windows; A Collection of Poems" was read from aloud by library board trustee and retired Northern Lehigh educator Renee Evans during the ceremony."From the time he was little he loved books," said his mother."At bedtime I'd agree to read one book. But he always got two out of me," she said as she dabbed a tissue to her eyes."No matter where you saw him, he had a book and pen in his hand. He loved the library."Vaughn's sister Sarah Berg said despite the tears, the event was a happy occasion."I'm glad he could leave a mark here. This is what he loved to do, so this is perfect," she said of the dedication.The honor student had made dean's list and was awarded a scholarship for the continuation of his education at Wesley College.It was while attending the school that Vaughn began to show signs of distress. After leaving the university after less than a year, Vaughn's personality changed. He was involved in minor brushes with the law over the three-year span before taking his own life in March by mixing chemicals he ordered online to create carbon monoxide, according to his mother.Vaughn's untimely passing left his parents and community with many unanswered questions."Something traumatic happened but he kept it all to himself," she said."There's too much stigma around mental illness, and it needs to change."Vaughn's aunt and Candace's sister, Natalie Green, witnessed the change in her nephew's personality firsthand and encourages anyone facing the same challenge to get help."Some parents feel it's embarrassing, but we don't have enough help. We need mental health help and it's not available," she said.Natalie encourages families and friends of a loved one in crisis to not give up."Keep trying," she said. "For the next person there will be a breakthrough if we keep trying. We've turned a blind eye in society and started to ignore the problems."Executive Director of the Library Board Wanda Owens said the plaque is a positive way to remember the late borough author."It's a catharsis for everyone. His spirit will be here among the books," she said."We feel the plaque is a little bit of the spirit of that person. When you come in and see the plaque, it's an uplifting thing. We are just proud we can offer this type of thing for families," Owens said.The funds donated in Vaughn's memory will be used for daily operations for the historic library.