The Nurses Honor Guard was first established in 2003 by the Kansas State Nurses Association. There are now more than 250 professional local chapters nationwide.
The South-Central Missouri Nurse Honor Guard LLC is a volunteer organization of active and retired nurses who come together to honor their nursing colleagues that have passed away. They currently have 12 members and cover services held in five counties including Phelps, Dent, Crawford, Texas and Pulaski.
The five-to-10-minute tribute during the funeral or memorial service recognizes the lifelong commitment of the nurse who has dedicated their life to caring for others. The volunteers wear traditional white uniforms, white caps and nursing capes representing a former era of nursing which reflects the history of the profession.
The honor guard provides this service free of charge to families and includes a special reading of the Nightingale Pledge, a personal tribute to the deceased and a final call to duty. A white rose is then placed on the casket or with the urn, and a Nightingale lamp is given to the family. The honor guard is not only a tribute to the deceased but also a way to offer support to grieving families, honor the commitment of nurses who have served their communities and to promote the dignity of the nursing profession.
Families or funeral directors can request a ceremony by contacting Bev Martin at 573-626-4699 or Carol Lacy at 573-453-4977. Meetings are held at 4 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Community Center at the Salem Armory. Nurses interested in joining the South-Central Missouri Nurse Honor Guard can also contact Bev or Carol.
Any individual, family or business interested in helping cover the cost of the lamps, brochures and other items needed for the ceremony can donate by mailing a check payable to the South-Central Missouri Nurse Honor Guard C/O Carol Lacy, 1108 South Louise St., Salem, Missouri 65560.