Since the death of her husband, Frank Harwood, a year ago, Meghan Harwood said moving forward has some days felt impossible. 

"Most days, the weight of it is terrible," she said Monday morning to about 500 people at McEuen Park.  

Her life raft, she said, has been their girls and maintaining the family routines and traditions that were so important to their father. 

"That helped honor Frank, and that's how I keep going," Meghan Harwood said. 

She said her husband knew what mattered most, understood that time was a valuable gift and showed up every day for his family, his friends and his fellow firefighters. 

"That is who we lost, and that is who we carry with us every day; we take each step forward," she said. 

On a gray and cloudy day, young and old gathered under and around Avista Pavilion for a remembrance ceremony for Frank Harwood and John Morrison. It was a year to the date both men were shot and killed in an ambush attack June 29, 2025, on Canfield Mountain while responding to an intentionally set wildland fire. 

Harwood, 42, was a battalion chief with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, while Morrison, 52, was a battalion chief with the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department. 

Coeur d'Alene Firefighter David Tysdal was seriously wounded in the shooting, spent time in a rehabilitation hospital, has since retired and is trying to recover at home. 

The 40-minute event included a  color guard, Coeur d'Alene Firefighters Pipes and Drums and guest speakers. There were tears, hugs and some laughter as speakers highlighted "two great men" as a giant flag fluttered in the background near Tubbs Hill. 

"We are here to remember these men who gave their lives, to acknowledge the people who carried us through this year, and to thank all of you," said KCFR Chief Pete Holley. "This community did not leave us alone with this tragedy. Not in the first week, and not now. The community showed up in the smallest ways, and those are the ones we noticed most. " 

Holley said they have not pretended the past year has been easy.  

"But we can tell you this. Our people are still excellent at this work, still proud to do it, and still here for you. They carried real grief and kept showing up for this community," he said. "Crisis reveals character. The character of this organization is second to none." 

Holley described Harwood as a teacher and mentor.  

"That is the simplest way to say it. He was not loud, he did not need to be. He spent his career making the people around him better, on purpose, one person at a time," Holley said. "The people he trained are still here, still serving, and they carry what he gave them."

He said Harwood set a standard and KCFR intended to maintain it. 

"A year ago, in the hardest hours any of us have known, we made three promises to each other. Honor Frank. Care for his family. Support our people. These three core promises have guided us through this last year. We have kept them. We are not going to stop," Holley said  

Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Deputy Chief Luke Pichette said Morrison's accomplishments and leadership have left a lasting impact on the department.   

"What mattered most to him was mentorship. He genuinely cared about the growth and success of those around him, investing his time, knowledge and energy into developing future leaders," Pichette said. 

When they think about John Morrison, Pichette said they don't think of the uniform or the badge. 

"We think about the person," he said. "John was infectious to be around and he had a way of creating an atmosphere of positivity regardless of what we were doing. His love language in the department was debate, sarcasm and some kind of new or 'can't-fail' business idea. And whether you agreed with him or not, you wanted in," Pichette said. 

He said Morrison was the kind of person who could bring light into a room with a smile, a joke or simply his presence. 

"Nobody saw what John did behind the scenes. He was very thoughtful and caring. I have heard several stories of him showing up at a time of need just because he knew being there would help bring peace," Pichette said.

He said Morrison’s legacy was built on relationships and on the shared commitment to being the best at what they did. He believed in the job and the people.

"That legacy will continue to live on in this department through every one of us in the standards we hold, in the way we treat each other, and in the pride we take in serving something bigger than ourselves," Pichette said. 

"John, you left a mark on all of us," he added. "You made us better. You made this place better. And you will not be forgotten."

Joe Morrison, John's son, said the outpouring of support, the comments, the flowers and the notes expressing sorrow for what happened and praising his father, were priceless. 

"You guys are awesome people," he said 

Joe Morrison said while reaction to what happened was incredible, he wanted to talk about the future.

He said many people view what happened June 29, 2025, "as a sad story and awful day, but it's a sad story if you close the book too early, and what I mean by that is, we can end on the sad part of mourning everyone's death on that day, but I believe that we can write a future where we make this a less sad event," he said. 

He urged people to be proactive in preventing gun violence and support responsible gun ownership and laws.  

"Bullets do not care who they get. Republicans, Democrats, does not matter. This is a human rights issue," he said. 

Joe Morrison asked people to get involved, help others, be part of the community and be someone others look up to. 

"Don't wait for others to do this. Sign up on your own, and others will follow. My dad had a quote, he always told me, 'Complacency kills,' and that's truer than ever," Joe Morrison said.

Meghan Harwood said over the past year, she came to understand "what we have in Kootenai County is not common.  

"This community wrapped around us in a way that I genuinely believed saved us," she said. "You gave us letters, handwritten, personal, from-the-heart letters, and I have read every single one of them. I continue to pull them out when I need to be reminded that we are not alone."

    Joe Morrison speaks during Monday's remembrance ceremony at McEuen Park.
  

    Coeur d'Alene Firefighter Josh Hoston leads the color guard procession as they are joined by Coeur d'Alene Firefighters Pipes and Drums on Monday at McEuen Park.
  

    People gather at McEuen Park to listen to speakers during Monday's remembrance ceremony for John Morrison and Frank Harwood.
  

    Meghan Harwood speaks during Monday's ceremony at McEuen Park.
  

    A giant flag is displayed near Tubbs Hill during Monday's remembrance ceremony at McEuen Park.
  

    A man wears a shirt honoring Dave Tysdal on Monday.
  

    Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Capt. Seth Hohenstreet addresses the crowd at Avista Pavilion on Monday.
  

    Flowers are displayed at Avista Pavilion during Monday's remembrance ceremony for John Morrison and Frank Harwood.