Southern Maine Nurse Honor Guard
Honoring a nurse’s dedication and commitment to their profession
Our Mission
The mission of the Southern Maine Nurse Honor Guard is to pay tribute to and recognize nurses who have devoted their lives to the nursing profession and supported their fellow nurses. The Honor Guard’s purpose is also to give comfort, support and empathy to the family and friends of the fallen nurse.
Our Core Values
Our chapter and members embody the core nursing values of human dignity, integrity, autonomy, altruism and social justice.
What we do
Ceremonial Service
To provide a ceremony that is compassionate and professional.
Attend dressed in traditional white uniform, with cap and navy cape.
Recite the Nightingale tribute, poem and roll call.
Present a rose and lamp.
Nurse colleagues attending the funeral will be invited to stand during the roll call.
Overall time of the ceremony is approximately 5 minutes and can be done at any time the family requests during the service.
We will arrive approximately 30 minutes prior to the ceremony, and provide a quiet presence until such time to perform the ceremony.
Nightingale Tribute
Nursing is a calling, a way of life.
Nurses here today honor our colleague, who is no longer with us, and their life as a nurse.
They are not remembered by the number of years as a nurse, but by the difference they made during those years, by stepping into people’s lives, by special moments.
(NAME) Was There
When a calming, quiet presence was all that was needed, (name) was there.
In the excitement and miracle of birth or in the mystery and loss of life, (name) was there.
When a silent glance could uplift a patient, family member or friend, (name) was there.
At those times when the unexplainable needed to be explained, (name) was there.
When the situation demanded a swift foot and sharp mind, (name) was there.
When a gentle touch, a firm push, or an encouraging word was needed, (name) was there.
In choosing the best one from a family’s “Thank You” box of chocolates, (name) was there.
To witness humanity, —its beauty, in good times and bad, without judgment, (name) was there.
To embrace the woes of the world, willingly, and offer hope, (name) was there
And now, that it is time to be at the Greater One’s side, (name) is there.
Roll Call
(name), we honor you this day and give you a white rose to symbolize our honor and appreciation for being our colleague.
We would like to invite any nurses present to stand as we do a final roll call.
(ring triangle) name
(ring triangle) name
(ring triangle) name
We officially release you from your earthly nursing duties.
About Us
The Southern Maine Nurse Honor Guard leadership team consists of active and retired nurses who volunteer their time to provide dignity & respect to their fellow nurses. The team considers it a privilege to participate in the services of their fallen colleagues.
Chair: Nancy Murphy
Co-Chair: Jill Rollins
Treasurer: Karen Harding
Secretary: Amander Wotton
Chair
Nancy Murphy
Co-Chair
Jill Rollins
Treasurer
Karen Harding MSN, RN
Secretary
Amander Wotton MSN, RN
Members
Jill Rollins, Lakes Region area
Nancy Murphy, Lakes Region area
Karen Harding, Lakes Region area
Amander Wotton, Portland area, Lakes Region area, MidCoast area
Ann Kulovitz, Lakes Region area
Krysten Gabri,
Trisha Dubois,
Nurse's Honor Wall
Honoring the Nurses of Maine who have passed before us
Contact Us
What does the Nurse Honor Guard do?
The Nurses 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 officially releases the nurse from their nursing duties.
The Nurses Honor Guard dresses in the traditional white uniform complete with cap and cape. The ceremony is brief; it takes about 5 minutes and consists of reciting the Nightingale Tribute and laying of a white rose on the casket or next to the urn, symbolizing the nurse’s dedication to the profession. After the Nightingale Tribute is recited, a triangle is rung after a roll call for the nurse. The nurse’s name is called three times and the triangle is rung after each call of the name. After the roll call the words are spoken that the nurse is officially released from their nursing duties. A lit Nightingale lamp is carried up at the beginning of the ceremony and is then extinguished and presented to the family with personal condolences made.