News Flash

This is the second consecutive year the MFRD Honor Guard has placed first in the National Honor Guard Competition at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Captain/Shift Inspectors Nora Smith, Wade Williams, and Thomas McAdoo, Captains Jeff Irvin, Gary Hutchinson, and Mike Adams, Driver Randy Shaw, and Firefighters Greg Burt and Charles Powell secured the trophy for their extraordinary presentation in details such as Full Dress Inspection, Posting of the Colors, Casket Watch, and Flag Folding.

City dignitaries were in attendance for the trophy presentation, including Mayor Tommy Bragg, Councilmember Eddie Smotherman, City Manager Rob Lyons, and Assistant City Manager Jim Crumley.

Chief Gaines expressed his pride for the team and stated, “This year’s win is even more important than the last. It shows who you are…you ARE the best.”

Chief Gaines also presented the team with a proclamation from the State of Tennessee Senate, signed by Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey and State Senator Bill Ketron. The proclamation stated, “I, Ron Ramsey, Speaker of the Senate of the One Hundred Eighth General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, at the request of and in conjunction with Senator Bill Ketron, do hereby proclaim that we congratulate the members of the Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue Department’s Honor Guard on their capture of the 2013 National Honor Guard Championship. We also give our appreciation to the department’s entire force of fine men and women, and extend to them our best wishes for success in all future endeavors.”

A copy of the proclamation was presented to City Manager Rob Lyons to display at City Hall. The proclamation that was presented to the Honor Guard by Chief Gaines will be on display at Fire Administration.

“We cannot begin to convey our happiness to accept this trophy from the Honor Guard. These men and women truly exemplify what our department stands for: hard workers, dedicated employees, accepting challenges, and uniting for a cause.”