Bryan Stalder
Northeast News
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…