Nurse Honor Guard provides final salute to health care heroes
Georgia volunteers provide solemn tributes for nurses who dedicated their lives to caring for others
(InvestigateTV) — Honor guard ceremonies, which are traditionally reserved for funerals held for military veterans, police officers and firefighters, are becoming more common for another group of frontline workers: nurses.
The Georgia Nurse Honor Guard provides tributes to nurses who have died or are in hospice care, offering families a formal recognition of their loved one’s service to the community.
Cindy Gilbert, a nurse for 44 years, did not want a funeral. She wanted a party, and she received such a tribute at her celebration of life
Her family had never heard of the Nurse Honor Guard until the local chapter reached out to pay tribute to her mother’s service.
“Nursing is a calling, a lifestyle, a way of living,” speakers said at Gilbert’s service. “In good times and bad, without judgment, she was there.”
Final roll call ceremony
The ceremony includes a final roll call, where honor guard members call the nurse’s name three times before officially releasing them from their nursing duties.
“Nurse Cindy Gilbert, please report to duty. Nurse Cindy Gilbert, please report for duty. Nurse Cindy Gilbert, please report for duty. Nurse Cindy Gilbert, we officially release you from your nursing duties. Your nursing colleagues will take it from here. You may be seated,” the honor guard said.
During the ceremony, nurses in attendance were asked to stand in recognition of their profession.
“Oh wait, that’s me, too. So, I stood up. And just that swell of pride and joy, knowing that she instilled that in me,” Robyn said.
Brandy Seraphin started the Live Oak Chapter of the Georgia Nurse Honor Guard in 2021 with Beverly Desalles. The chapter covers six counties and provides tributes not only for funerals but also for nurses in hospice care.
“I’ve always heard of giving somebody their flowers while they’re here. My grandmother used to say it, you know, love is an action word, so you do it now,” Seraphin said.
The service is provided at no cost to families.
“It’s a beautiful moment,” Seraphin said.
“And how can that not touch your soul?” Desalles added.
State recognition
Both Seraphin and Desalles were recognized this spring when Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared May 12 “Georgia Nurse Honor Guard Day.”
The Kansas State Nurses Association developed the Nightingale Tribute in 2003.
More than 220 chapters across the country provide the ceremony when invited. Families can contact local funeral homes to ask if they work with a Nurse Honor Guard.
See the full story by Meredith Anderson.
Copyright 2026 Gray Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
