October 12, 2016, marks one year since Kansas City lost two of its firefighters in the line of duty.
John Mesh and Larry Leggio were greatly loved and well-respected firefighters who were stationed right where they grew up -- in the Northeast.
"It's a hurt for all of us," said Frank Pisciotta, a retired KCFD Captain who knew both men since they were children.
Pisciotta said the Northeast community has had a tough year following the tragic loss.
"It's just rough on them, you know. Once you realize it, they are not coming back," Pisciotta said.
Mesh and Leggio had a passion for fighting fires and serving their community. They died doing what they loved.
Still, it will never be easy for those they left behind.
"It's just devastating what happened. Because you always think about what might have been or could have been. Because you just never know, you never know," Pisciotta added.
Previous coverage:
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Kansas City firefighter Larry Leggio laid to rest
Procession held for fall firefighter John Mesh who was laid to rest
Friends and family hold vigil for fallen firefighters
Friends and family members of John Mesh and Larry Leggio gathered to remember the fallen firefighters during a vigil on the one year anniversary of their deaths on Wednesday.
Friends & family of Larry Leggio & John Mesh join in prayer on anniversary of @KCMOFireDept firefighters deaths pic.twitter.com/8Bn4t8Ck8Y
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) October 13, 2016
At a memorial just steps away from where the tragedy occurred in 2015, those who knew the men exchanged hugs, shed tears, and carried red glow sticks to honor the fallen firefighters.
Missy Leggio, the widow of Larry Leggio, was joined by several members of the Mesh family on the day of the two men’s deaths.
“I’m trying not to get too sad and trying not to let anyone else get too sad,” explained Missy Leggio. “We're here to celebrate."
During the vigil, loved ones gave speeches about Larry Leggio and John Mesh and thanked the community for support following the tragedy.
During a moment of silence, Missy Leggio said she thought of her husband’s last call for duty.
“Any moment of silence, I wonder if he felt pain,” she said. “Whenever there's a moment of silence, I feel pain."
Alyssa Mesh, the 17-year-old daughter of John Mesh, gave a tearful speech at the ceremony explaining how she missed her father.
Friends & family of John Mesh & Larry Leggio stopping at this memorial to pay respects to the two firefighters pic.twitter.com/AetFs3YQSg
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) October 12, 2016
Afterwards, she said having people to reach out to has helped get her through the tough times.
“I just thought a lot about him, about Dad,” Alyssa explained. “All of these people made it a little easier with all the comfort. I couldn't have done it without any of them.”
Fellow firefighters also showed up to the vigil to honor the two men, as well as some of the people who lost homes in the fire that killed John Mesh and Larry Leggio.
“We lost a lot of stuff,” explained William Pavlish, who was evacuated from his home during the fire response. “The families lost a lot of stuff. We've all lost a lot of stuff."
At the conclusion of the vigil, friends and family members released red balloons into the night sky in honor of the two men.
Moving forward, Missy Leggio said she hoped people continued to hold the fallen firefighters close to their hearts.
“I don't think Kansas City, family, and friends are going to let us forget," she said.
On Friday, a permanent memorial dedicated to John Mesh and Larry Leggio will be revealed at the Kansas City Museum.
By November, organizers hope to add the memorial to the west wall of Snyder’s Grocery Store near where the two firefighters died.
Kansas City Fire Department Chief Paul Berardi reflects on the past year
The past year has been especially hard on the Kansas City Fire Department and it's chief, Paul Berardi.
"Yes, probably. It's definitely been a hard year," said Berardi. "I did not realize how hard this day would be until about an hour ago when I tried to promote somebody but it's been tough."
Many of the men and women on his department continue to grieve.
"There's a void in the department. People still feel very strongly a sense of loss with both John and Larry," he said.
As the department has worked to heal, it's members have also worked on ways to improve safety and communication.
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Months after the fatal fire, the department launched an internal investigation, resulting in a 71-page report.
Among the findings were 14 recommendations including creating a department policy on how firefighters should work around building zones, updating critical information exchange and radio calls, as well as providing more situational awareness training.
Since the fire, the department has already created clearer policies on what to do when there's a May-Day call or a possibility of a building collapse. The administration is still working on a new accountability system.
Two other firefighters were seriously injured when the building collapsed. One of the firefighters returned to work, the other still has not.
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Lexi Sutter can be reached at lexi.sutter@kshb.com.
