Bryan Stalder
Contributor

Ten years ago today, two Kansas City firefighters — Larry Leggio and John Mesh — made the ultimate sacrifice while battling a blaze in the 2600 block of Independence Avenue, just steps from where the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and Northeast News offices now stand.

On October 12, 2015, the two men were among the Kansas City Fire Department crews responding to a fire inside a nail salon when a wall collapsed, killing both firefighters and injuring two others. The loss sent shockwaves through the department and the Northeast neighborhood where both men grew up.

Leggio, a 17-year veteran of the KCFD, and Mesh, a 13-year veteran, were remembered not only for their service but for their deep ties to the community they served. Both men called Northeast home, and both were known for their dedication — to their families, their firehouses, and their city.

In the years since their passing, the site of the fire has become a place of remembrance. A permanent memorial plaque, dedicated in 2016, stands at 2620 Independence Avenue, where friends, family, and fellow firefighters continue to gather to pay their respects.

Community members and organizations have ensured that the legacies of Mesh and Leggio endure. The John V. Mesh Memorial Scholarship Fund, created by his family and fellow firefighters, continues to provide opportunities for young people — particularly young women — to pursue education and outdoor experiences in fields such as conservation and environmental science. Each year, the John V. Mesh Sporting Clays Shoot draws hundreds of participants to raise scholarship funds in his name.

The Italian-American service organization UNICO also honors both men annually with the John V. Mesh and Larry Leggio Memorial Scholarships, awarded to Kansas City–area students of Italian heritage pursuing higher education.

Following the tragedy, the Kansas City Fire Department implemented a series of safety reforms and new policies designed to prevent similar incidents in the future. Those changes included improvements in communication and accountability at fire scenes, as well as the development of a structural collapse policy that had not previously existed.

At a memorial service marking the first anniversary of their deaths, Deacon Mike Lewis, a Historic Northeast native, called the site of the fire “sacred ground, dedicated to the memory of these local heroes.”

Ten years later, those words still hold true.

From the plaque at Independence Avenue to the classrooms and scholarships bearing their names, the stories of Larry Leggio and John Mesh remain deeply woven into the fabric of the Northeast community they loved and served.

Community members wishing to honor their legacy can visit the memorial plaque at 2620 Independence Avenue or support the John V. Mesh Memorial Scholarship Fund, which continues to inspire and empower future generations in their names.