Memphis Nurse Honor Guard

On Veterans Day, the newly formed Lt. Col. Luke Weathers Jr. VA Nurse Honor Guard proudly marched down Second Street in nursing regalia to show their respect for our nation's Veterans. This same group of nurses has also accepted the mission of honoring the distinguished careers of VA nurses as a tribute during their memorial or funeral services.

The honor guard, a group of volunteer registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, coordinates the Final Call of Duty ceremony with the nurse's family. The ceremony is a meaningful way to demonstrate respect and gratitude to fellow nurses for their devotion to caring for those who served.

"It is a beautiful tribute to the nurses that have spent their entire career caring for others," said Marvia Balfour-Coleman, president of the Memphis Honor Guard. "We want to let the community know that we are here and want to honor the service of their loved one."

The ceremony can be tailored to fit into the family's plans, but most ceremonies contain a special tribute to the mother of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale. This includes lighting the Nightingale lamp, ringing the duty bell and reading the nurse's name.

"The ceremony usually lasts about five to 10 minutes and can be held as a memorial service, funeral service or at the cemetery. We can support nearly any situation and recognize that sometimes families may want to do it after the initial bereavement period," said Balfour-Coleman. "We are the largest integrated health care system in the nation with more than 170 medical centers. Our nurses are invaluable members of the organization serving on the front lines and in every area of the health care organization."

The flexibility of the honor guard is a hallmark of the care and compassion nurses demonstrate daily in caring for Veterans.

The Memphis Honor Guard is the third federal Nurse Honor Guard established in VA, joining Hampton VA and Aleda E. Lutz VA.

"I am proud to have the Memphis team lead the way in establishing the Nurse Honor Guard in VISN 9. It really shows how much each VA nurse is appreciated and camaraderie among the nurses," said Gregory Goins, network director, VA MidSouth Healthcare Network.

The Memphis VA honor guard stands ready to assist any nurse's family that would like to hold a ceremony to honor their loved one, and it has plans for a special commemorative ceremony next May during National Nurses Month.

"The compassion and dedication of our nurses never ceases to amaze me and our Nurse Honor Guard takes that to a whole new level. They represent their commitment to providing the best care to our Veterans and their community," said Joseph Vaughn, executive director.

Members of the Memphis Nurse Honor Guard want everyone to know they are here to serve and they care deeply about upholding the excellence of their profession, providing exceptional care to Veterans and honoring each other. It's in their nursing DNA.