Nurse Honor Guard Of McMinnville Gathers To Honor Nurses

A group of McMinnville nurses gathering Tuesday night to honor nurses that have passed away.

The Nurse Honor Guard of McMinnville typically performs ceremonies at funerals at the request of family members. PIO Shauna Samuel said it is a way to show gratitude for their service during their careers.

“You know healthcare is 24/7 it’s not a 9 to five job it’s holidays, weekends,” Samuel said. “And we give our time all the time. We take time away from our kids, our husbands. And we recognize that you’ve played a part in the nursing world.”

Samuel said the ceremony involves a special nurse’s prayer and a poem. She said Tuesday’s event will feature some 50 nurses sent in by the community to be honored.

Samuel said 25-member organization also works with other Nurse Honor Guards in the region. She said they help each other to make sure all requests for ceremony are met in order to make sure all nurses are honored.

“If you think about it every other profession has an honor guard whether it be military police fireman,” Samuel said. “Everyone has the option to have a service performed for them even sororities and fraternities. And nurses deserve that same opportunity.”