KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On this day four years ago, Kansas City, Mo., lost two of its finest.
KCFD Firefighters John Mesh and Larry Leggio were killed while fighting a fire near Independence Boulevard and Prospect Avenue.
Since the fire on October 12, 2015, a makeshift memorial has been at the location for people to go and pay their respects.
A permanent memorial was placed at the site Saturday to honor the two men.
Jim Mesh lost his brother John in the fire.
He told 41 Action News John was the kind of person that people strive to be.
"I mean my brother, you know everybody says he was a good guy, you know, but my brother was a good man," said Mesh.
Mesh and Leggio died when a wall collapsed on them while fighting fire at a nail salon in the 2600 block of Independence Boulevard.
Leggio was a 17-year veteran of the department and Mesh was a 13-year veteran.
"I just want people to know that not only my brother and Larry, but all first responders are heroes, they go rush towards danger when everyone else is running away from it for people they don't know," said Mesh.
October 12 is not an easy day for Mesh and his family, but seeing a new memorial honoring his brother makes it special.
"Stuff like that for me, you know when I come here and people come up and they have no idea who I am and knowing that they're showing my brother and Larry you know love and respect for what they stood for, makes me feel good in my heart," said Mesh.
Community members worked together to make the memorial possible.
"It's about community and they paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our community and for that, we owe them this," said Michael Bushnell, Northeast News.
After their deaths, 14 recommendations were made by a special panel that included Kansas City firefighters.
"I don't blame the fire department or the firefighters for this happening, I blame the person who was convicted of starting the fire," said Mesh.
The fire department has implemented those changes and a spokesman told 41 Action News the department is constantly reviewing and revising to make sure they are operating in the most safe manner.
"I hope that losing John and Larry does make the fire department better so to speak or more informed or whatever they feel they need to do to keep something like this from happening again," said Mesh.
Community members told 41 Action News they are speaking with Kansas City Parks and Recreation about making the site where the fire happened, a park in remembrance of Mesh and Leggio.
