Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue Department held its first annual Remembrance Ceremony for Fallen Firefighters Saturday afternoon at the site of the Rutherford County Fallen Firefighters Memorial.

During the ceremony, the department honored the only two confirmed line of duty deaths in MFRD’s history. Seventy-five years ago on this date, Firefighters AC Cartwright and Winfred Vaughn were killed on the way to a grass fire when the truck they were riding on was struck by another vehicle.

Maggi Vaughn, Poet Laureate of Tennessee and daughter of Winfred Vaughn, recited a poem she wrote for the occasion about fallen firefighters across the nation.

MFRD’s national award-winning Honor Guard performed a traditional bell ringing ceremony and placed one rose each for both Cartwright and Vaughn at the base of the memorial.

“We would like to thank all those who attended today’s ceremony,” said Chief Cumbey Gaines. “The crowd of people showing support for these fallen firefighters, speaks volumes of how our citizens are appreciative of those who lay their lives on the line every day.”

The Rutherford County Fallen Firefighters Memorial was dedicated in January 2011. It is located on the northwest corner of Murfreesboro’s public square.