About

 The Southwest Virginia Nurse Honor Guard is a dedicated group of nursing professionals from all levels committed to honoring the service and sacrifices of nurses who have passed away at their funeral or memorial services. Our services pay tribute to the profound impact that nurses have made throughout their careers, and we strive to celebrate their legacy with dignity and respect.

The Southwest Virginia Nurse Honor Guard provides the following services, including:

Ceremonial Tributes: We organize and conduct ceremonies to honor deceased nurses by reciting the Nightingale Tribute, placing a white rose by their side, and giving the dedicated family member a nursing lamp.

Community Outreach: We engage with the community to raise awareness about the importance of honoring nursing professionals and to encourage support for our mission.

The Ceremony

The Southwest Virginia Nurse Honor Guard will attend a funeral, memorial service, or event when a group is available. At least two members will attend the service. The Southwest Virginia Nurse Honor Guard pays tribute to nurses at the time of their death by performing the Nightingale Tribute at the funeral or memorial service. This service is similar to a military tribute and of;icially releases the nurse from their nursing duties.

Funeral or Memorial Service

The family will receive a printed brochure with the nurse’s name, photo (if provided), date of birth, and date of death. The nurse honor guard will conduct the ceremony at the time planned by the family/funeral home. The team will stand by the nurse, recite The Nightingale Tribute, and release them from their nursing duties. A white rose will be placed on the casket or memorial area. The lamp light will be extinguished.

Community Event

As requested, the Nurse Honor Guard members who can attend will come in uniform to promote the service to the public.

2004: The Nightingale Tribute

Duane Jaeger wrote the Nightingale Tribute in 2004, entitled "She Was There." The Kansas State Nurses Association presented the tribute to the American Nurses Association, which was adopted as the official memorial for nurse colleagues (Harris, 2024).

2011: The National Nurse Honor Guard Coalition 

 In 2011, Julia Godby Murray, Founder and President of the National Nurse Honor Guard Coalition, started a nurse honor guard in Michigan and wore her historical uniform to Washington, D.C. rallying for safe nurse staffing.  Julie spread the message via social media and has helped many other states form Honor Guards.  Today, there are over 250 nurse honor guards across the United States.  Each honor guard group operates autonomously, and the ceremonies can differ slightly from state to state.  However, all the tributes contain similar details and aim to give fellow nurses recognition and dignity, free of charge (Nurse.org Staff, 2023). 

2013: Establishment of Nurse Honor Guard

 In 2013, the Nurse Honor Guard originated in the Midwestern United States, drawing inspiration from military honor guards, to specifically recognize and honor deceased nurses for their dedicated service throughout their careers.  The concept was attributed to a retired nurse named Shelley Willette from Plattsburgh, NY, who established the National Nurses Honor Guard to formalize this practice (Hopkins, 2024). 

2013: Virginia Nurse Honor Guard

Allison (William) Burnette became the contact for Nurse Honor Guards in Virginia.  He is a founder/member of the Roanoke Valley Nightingale Tribute (2013).  Allison was instrumental in helping establish the Southwest Virginia Nurse Honor Guard, along with the members of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners and The Health Wagon.

2018: Southwest Virginia Ceremonies-The Health Wagon

 The Health Wagon proudly established the first Honor Guard in Southwest VA  to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary contributions of nurses in the region. This significant initiative was inaugurated with a touching ceremony honoring Pauline Moore Ratcliffe who passed away May 11, 2018, a beloved nurse who served at Norton Community Hospital, Norton, VA. for over 25 years. Pauline also was a veteran and served in the US Army. Pauline was not only a dedicated healthcare provider but also the cherished first cousin of Dr. Teresa Owens Tyson, DNP, and a dear friend to Dr. Paula Hill Collins, DNP who conducted the region's first ceremony. Her Honor Guard ceremony, held at her funeral, included a moving white rose ceremony symbolizing purity, honor, and remembrance where also nurses came forward to participate. A few months later, the Honor Guard paid tribute to Pauline's twin sister, Darlene Moore Nixon, who also worked alongside Pauline as a nurse, highlighting the sisters' profound impact on their community.  A third ceremony followed for Shirley Moore McElyea, a sister-in-law to both Pauline and Darlene, and a fellow nurse whose service was equally celebrated. These heartfelt ceremonies underscore the Health Wagon's commitment to honoring the legacy and selfless dedication of nurses in Southwest Virginia.

2024: Southwest Virginia Nurse Honor Guard

 The southwest region, Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners (VCNP) members and the Health Wagon, expressed interest in expanding nurse honor guard services.  Christine Mullins collaborated with William Allison Barnett and Julie Murray to gather information on establishing a regional program.  In collaboration with the VCNP and The Health Wagon, Christine Mullins developed the logo, website, purchased caps, supplies needed, and then sewed three capes to begin hosting ceremonies.  Health Wagon’s Dr. Teresa Tyson supplied our first lantern for the ceremonies. In 2024,  we established a microsoft website, Facebook account, and recruited 19 volunteers and 11 regional champions representing nine counties in southwest Virginia. 

2025: SWVA Nurse Honor Guard 

 After establishing SWVA Nurse Honor Guard Champions for each county, our team announced the services to the local funeral homes and provided brochures.  The funeral homes agreed to  contact our team Champions for the ceremonial service.  Dr. Cassie Sheffey organized our first raffle to raise money for the efforts.   The SW-VCNP sold $5 raffle tickets for a chance to win an Eko brand electronic stethoscope (valued at $400). The funds were used to acquire more honor guard supplies-lanterns, caps, capes, flowers, ribbon, laminating sheets, etc. 

The honor guard met monthly at the SW-VCNP Meetings, reviewing membership, funds, ceremonies conducted, events, and needs of all members. In 2025, our volunteer membership increased to 76, with 11 Champions, covering 13 counties and the city of Norton.  Thirteen students from The University of Virginia's College at Wise joined our efforts.  

2026: SWVA Nurse Honor Guard Future

In 2026, Dr. Patti Vanhook donated a handmade quilt for raffle to raise funds for our group.  Funds were used to buy a parade banner, additional capes, lanterns, and supplies.  The group conducted our first memorial tribute for fallen nurses at the 2026 VCNP Conference in Restin, VA.   To be continued...

References

Harris, M. (2024). National Nurses Honor Guard Coalition: Remembering a colleague. https://journals.lww.com/homehealthcarenurseonline/citation/2024/07000/national_nurses_honor_guard_coalition__remembering.11.aspx#:~:text=The%20Nurses%20Honor%20Guard%20includes,%2C%20funeral%20home%2C%20or%20cemetery.

Hopkins, C. (2024). Honoring compassion: The role of the Nurse Honor Guard.  https://cmsa.org/honoring-c

Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners Southwest Region. (2025). New year update. https://www.vcnp.net/our-region/?RID=8

Southwest Virginia Nurse Honor Guard. (2025). Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571194695407

The Roanoke Valley Nightingale Tribute for Nurses. (2013). Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/608701299155040/