Members of the North Iowa Nurse Honor Guard
For generations, nurses have stood beside patients and families during some of life’s most meaningful moments, providing comfort, compassion, and care. Now, a growing organization in North Iowa is ensuring those same nurses receive a fitting tribute when their own life’s journey comes to an end.
The North Iowa Nurse Honor Guard was established last spring by retired nurses Patti Peterson, Diane Thenhaus and Angela Westphal. The organization is one of several Nurse Honor Guard chapters serving communities across Iowa, providing ceremonial tributes at the funerals and memorial services of nurses.
Since its formation, the North Iowa chapter has grown to 33 active members and has performed five services. The group’s first ceremony was held in Clear Lake with assistance from members of the Ames chapter.
Today, the chapter serves a broad geographic area stretching as far as Emmetsburg and is actively seeking additional members to help expand its reach throughout North Iowa.
For Peterson, who spent 42 years in nursing, participating in the ceremonies has been both meaningful and gratifying.
“If I can do this for a nurse, it fills my bucket a little bit,” Peterson said. “It’s been really rewarding.”
For many nurses, the Honor Guard represents a unique opportunity to recognize a profession built on service, compassion and sacrifice. Supporters say the ceremonies provide comfort to families while honoring the lasting impact nurses have on the communities they serve.
“Nursing is more than a profession. It’s a calling that shapes the lives of patients, families and communities every day,” said Beth Trees, Chief Nursing Officer at Mitchell County Regional Health Center. “The North Iowa Nurse Honor Guard provides a beautiful and meaningful way to recognize the dedication, compassion and service nurses have given throughout their careers. It’s a tribute that honors both the person and the profession.”
The Nurse Honor Guard movement traces its roots to 2003, when the Kansas State Nurses Association conceived the idea of honoring nurses through a formal farewell ceremony. The American Nurses Association officially sanctioned the tribute in 2005.
The ceremonies recognize not only a career, but a calling. Honor Guard members gather to perform the Nightingale Tribute, a ceremonial farewell named for nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale. The tribute often includes special readings and the symbolic extinguishing of a lamp, representing the completion of a nurse’s earthly duties and honoring a lifetime of compassion and service. For families, it provides meaningful recognition of a nurse’s professional legacy and lasting impact on patients, colleagues and communities.
The North Iowa Nurse Honor Guard recently achieved nonprofit status, an important milestone as members continue to build the organization and grow its presence across the region. Looking ahead, the group hopes to establish nursing scholarships to support future generations entering the profession.
An informational meeting for active and retired LPNs, RNs and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses interested in learning more about the organization will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, in the basement meeting room at Cedar Valley Seminary in Osage.
As membership continues to grow, the North Iowa Nurse Honor Guard remains focused on its mission: honoring nurses whose lives were devoted to caring for others and ensuring their service is remembered with dignity, gratitude and respect.
For more information, visit the North Iowa Nurse Honor Guard Facebook page or contact Patti Peterson at 641-430-7333.
