A local man has built 26 birdhouses in memory of the first-grade students and adults killed in last month's school shooting in Connecticut.

Ric Cooper of Weirton and some of his family members spent the past three weeks building the birdhouses.

They have been painted green and white, the same colors as Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. A brass nameplate attached to each birdhouse is engraved with each of the victim's names.

Media outlets say Weirton officials plan to take the birdhouses to Connecticut along with other items collected at a community vigil.

Cooper says he wanted Newtown community members to know that others are thinking of them.