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Salem Nurse Honor Guard



Our mission

The Salem Nurse Honor Guard recognizes men and women who have dedicated their lives to nursing. At the end of life’s journey, we pay tribute to those nurses who have devoted their professional lives to caring for the vulnerable. The Nightingale Tribute and a final Call to Duty is performed in their honor.

Meet our team

The original nurse leaders of the Salem Nurse Honor Guard are Lori Phillips, Kristie Lawrence, Nancy Dunn, Kelly Peterson, Ginger O’Reilly and Dana Hart (pictured left to right). To learn about all our amazing veteran nurses who serve for SNHG — who they are and why they joined the Salem Nurse Honor Guard — click the button below. 

 


Salem Nurse Honor Guard leadership


"The Salem Nurse Honor Guard provided a deeply meaningful and heartfelt tribute that was a truly impactful addition to the memorial ceremony. Many staff and faculty commented on the exceptional nature of the Honor Guard’s presentation at the memorial honoring Dr. Pam Fifer."

— April Phillips, DNP, Program Director, George Fox University


A nurses prayer
What we do

The Salem Nurse Honor Guard offers a moving Florence Nightingale tribute to nurses who have passed.

If you’re planning to honor the memory of a loved one who has been a nurse, consider making the Salem Nurse Honor Guard part of your service.

A touching five-minute tribute is provided at no charge in Salem and the surrounding area. Feel free to download and share our brochure with friends and family.

 

 

Salem Nurse Honor Guard logo

 

Since 2025, the Salem Nurse Honor Guard has had the deep privilege of honoring nurses during their memorial services. To learn more about those incredible nurses and our work in the SNHG, please visit our tribute page.

 




"I wanted to write to you in appreciation and admiration for your mission and the incredible tribute I had the honor of seeing this last weekend for a fallen member of our surgical services family. Your attendance, tribute, and final call to duty left a deep and lasting impact with me and with the group as they move towards healing and closure. You are making a difference! Please keep doing what you are doing."

— Josh Franke, MBA, Vice President of Surgical Services


Nurse Honor Guard tribute
Honor guard symbols

In our ceremonies we use the following three symbols:

The white rose symbolizes purity, innocence, reverence and remembrance. Often used to honor fallen soldiers or individuals with a high level of respect.

The Nightingale lamp symbolizes the light and hope that nurses bring to their patients, and the nursing profession. It's used in honor guard ceremonies to honor nurses who have died.

The ringing of the bell is a time-honored signal used as a tolling bell or call to duty. In the nurse honor guard, the ringing of the bell is used for roll call. When there is no answer, we officially release them of their nursing duties. 

 


"I heard many people remark that your contribution was one of the most meaningful and moving moments from the entire service. Well done!"

— Reverend Wallace


A living tribute

The Salem Nurse Honor Guard also does living tributes, where they honor the career and accomplishments of a nurse. You can watch a touching tribute for retired nurse, Flora Martinez by clicking the link below.

Flora devoted more than 40 years to nursing, launching her career in 1967. She worked throughout the county helping others and eventually found her way to Salem Health, where her passion for nursing remained strong until she retired. 

 


A living tribute to Flora Martinez


Honor guard's history

To learn about the history of Oregon’s first Nurse Honor Guard, read the article by one of it's founders, Nancy Dunn, RN.

 


Mock honor guard ceremony

To see if our tribute services are a good fit for your loved one, you can watch a mock ceremony by clicking the button below.






"[The SNHG] is such a wonderful way to give back and promote the profession of nursing. What an honor for me."

— Lisa Burke, SNHG volunteer


How to get started

Area funeral homes, hospice facilities, assisted living facilities and Salem Health spiritual advisors know to offer this tribute (at no charge) when families contact them for support and/or services. Request a tribute below.



I’m a nurse,
how can I join?

Email us to add your name
to the waiting list.