Michael Bushnell
Northeast News
Oct. 16, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The Northeast community takes care of its own. And when two of its residents recently perished saving the lives of two by standards, the community wanted to thank them personally for their service.

On Thursday evening, the Kansas City Museum hosted a candlelight vigil to honor the memories of the two firefighters killed in last Monday night’s blaze at Independence and Prospect. Roughly 100 residents of Kansas City’s Historic Northeast community attended the vigil, along with about 60 on and off duty firefighters to pay their respects to Northeast natives John Mesh and Larry Leggio.

City Manager Troy Schulte opened the ceremonies and paid homage to both men. Leslie Caplan, Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood Association President, then read a City Council resolution that was officially passed into the city record at Thursdays City Council meeting. Following remarks by Councilman Scott Wagner, a lone bagpiper played a traditional melody to close the evening.

“These are two neighborhood heroes and we wanted the community to have a chance to honor them in their own way” Anna Marie Tutera, Executive Director of the Kansas City Museum, said.

A public memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Sprint Center. Funeral arrangements for both firefighters are being handled privately.