Nursing Honor Guard
A service available to families honoring fallen nurses in Edgar County and surrounding communities.
“Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an
exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter’s or sculptor’s
work; for what is having to do with dead canvas or dead marble, compared
with having to do with the living body, the temple of God’s spirit?
It is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said, the finest of the Fine
Arts.”
− Florence Nightingale
About
The Horizon Health Honor Guard was organized to recognize and pay homage
to men and women who have committed their lives to the nursing profession.
The Honor Guard was established to honor registered nurses (RNs) and licensed
practical nurses (LPNs) for the many lives they have touched.
Services
Honorary Pallbearers
The Honor Guard may be requested to attend the visitation and/or funeral
service to serve as honorary pallbearers.
Casket Honor Guard
The Honor Guard may be posted at the head of the casket or at the head
and foot, standing silently to give their last respects. At predetermined
times during the visitation, the Honor Guard will be exchanged as the
Nightingale lamp burns brightly during the visitation and/or service.
Final Call to Duty (Roll Call)
The Final Call to Duty may be performed during the services or at the grave site.
During the Final Call to Duty, the Nightingale lamp is lit in the nurse’s
honor, and the nurse’s name is called out with a request to report to duty.
After the third and final call, the nurse is relieved of their earthly
duties and the lamp’s flame is extinguished. This is the final call
for those who have served selflessly and given their lives for the good
of their fellow man; their tasks are complete, their duties are done,
they are going home.
Eligibility/Contact
At the family’s request, the Horizon Health Nursing Honor Guard will
pay tribute to a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse in Edgar
County or surrounding community within a 50-mile radius.
For more information, or to request the participation of a Nursing Honor
Guard at your loved one’s funeral, please contact:
Somer Nagrodski, RN
(217) 466-4320
SNagrodski@myhorizonhealth.org
Susan Livvix, MSN, RN
(812) 240-0894