FINDLAY __ A new organization called the Flag City Nurse Honor Guard was established in April 2023 with 4 attendees and a discussion about what a Nurse Honor Guard is and why the Findlay area needs one. 

The concept was created in 2003 by the Kansas State Nurses Association. The National Nurses Honor Guard Coalition was formed by Julie Godby Nurry, now director of the National Nurses Honor Guard Coalition.

Claire Gonyer, a nurse at Blanchard Valley Health System was inspired to by attending the funeral of a friend, when an honor service was performed. With enthusiasm the Flag City Nurse Honor Guard was formed and began attending funerals when asked by families to say the final roll call. 

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The organization explains, “We attend in our white uniforms, caps and capes carrying a lit lamp symbolizing the one carried by nurses that tended to soldiers back in the 1800s. The cape was worn in the field for warmth. The red lining signaled they were medical to prevent getting caught in the fighting. 

“The short ceremony includes asking any nurses present to stand, placement of a white flower and the name of the nurse is called and asked to report for duty. A chime is rung after the nurse's name  is called three times. After no response they call the name and say, "We officially release you from your nursing duties, your nursing colleagues will take if from here." The lamp is extinguished and given to the family with quiet words of condolences. 

“The Nurse Honor Guard personalizes the service to the family's request and can include guarding the casket during the service, accompanying the placement of the casket into the hearse, and reading the nursing prayer or the Nightingale Tribute. The ceremony can be done at the funeral, wake, or graveside, or at a memorial service at a later day. This service is for any nurse, RN pr LVN. 

“The groups are made up of dedicated volunteers who often get as much comfort from participating as the families do. Nurses are healers and honoring our colleagues in this way brings us a feeling of dignity and respect for our beloved profession. Nurses have taken a beating lately as we struggled through the consequences of the past years. This helps us remember why we became nurses and heals our hearts.”

There are no fees for the service, donations are welcome. 

If interested in volunteering, you must be an RN or LVN active or retired and have the ability to travel within a 30-mile radius of the Findlay area. For more information, contact Claire Gonyer, 419.308.1885, [email protected] or Cheryl Rhoad, 419.615.0224 or at [email protected].