Nurses Honor Guard Formed In Rockland

BLAUVELT, NY — A local chapter of the National Nurses Honor Guard Coalition has been formed in Rockland County.

"This is a way to pay a heartfelt thank you to the dedicated nurses who have served our community," said Liz Falco, RCNHG president.

The Rockland County Nurses Honor Guard offers memorial tributes for nurses at the time of their death or as they near the end of life. Tributes are non-denominational and performed free of charge.

"Nurses are healers," said Falco, "and this service also provides a healing moment for grieving families, friends and co-workers."

The Nurses Honor Guard carries out a brief yet poignant ceremony. It is similar to military and police ceremonies which honor beloved colleagues.

" It’s time for nurses to be appreciated as much as police, fire, military," Falco told Patch. "We’ve never been good at spouting off about how good we are. We need to appreciate each other and this is a way to do it."

The tributes are based on the Nightingale nursing tradition dating back to the 19th century, the members of the honor guard are dressed in the classic white uniform, complete with cape, cap and lamp, a familiar and powerful image from old photos and posters. The Nightingale Lamp, modeled after the oil lamp used by Florence Nightingale for working at night, is presented to the family.

Nationally, the coalition started about 13 years ago. Before the COVID pandemic, Falco saw information about it and its founder, Julia Murray, on Facebook. She reached out to Murray, and she and others began working on a Rockland chapter in October. The chapter was announced at the Profession Nurses Association of Rockland County in April and 14 more joined the original six.

They're among 250 groups nationwide, including a Hudson Valley chapter for Westchester, Putnam and Orange counties.

"It's really taking off," Falco said. "Julia had 400 capes ordered last month."

The local group has done four tributes so far, one to assist other chapters and one in Tappan.

That was for Audrey Mullin, who was a nurse at Summit Park Hospital for many years. The Mullin family recently had a personalized tribute at a Rockland funeral home.

"I don’t think I can put into words how much the nurses’ sendoff meant to us and how sure I am that Mom would have cherished it," Kerry Beckman said. "Mom was so proud of her service as a nurse. What a wonderful thing the Nurses Honor Guard is doing for fellow caregivers."

The newly formed group is growing.

"There are six of us now who have the caps and capes and we have another eight who are ready to get theirs," Falco said. "It is our privilege to honor local nurses and we encourage their loved ones to contact us."

Services can be arranged at the request of family, friends or funeral directors.

To request a Memorial Tribute in Rockland County:

• RCNursesHonorGuard@gmail.com
• Elizabeth Falco, 845-721-7111 (Please text first.)
• Jo-Ann Robinson, 201-546-6370 (Please text first.)

"Nationally, there’s probably someone who would go to wherever it is and do a tribute for any nurse that’s passed," she said.

This week, during National Nurses Week, members of the Rockland chapter are headed to Westchester for a tribute to a retired nurse in an assisted living facility.

"I’m looking forward to doing that," she said. "It’s very powerful."