“Taking caring to the next level.”
Connecticut Nurses Honor Guard
About Us
The Connecticut Nurses Honor Guard is a non-profit organization composed of active and retired nurses who volunteer their time to support families by attending the funeral of their loved one who had a career as a nurse. The Honor Guard pays tribute to fallen nurses at the time of their death by performing the Nightingale Tribute at the funeral or memorial service. This ceremony is similar to a military tribute, and officially releases the fallen nurse from their nursing duties. Click here for a sample tribute.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Connecticut Nurses Honor Guard is to provide comfort to families at the time of their loved one’s passing.
Vision Statement
To provide a tribute to every fallen nurse in Connecticut.
Awards and Recognition
The Connecticut Nurses Honor Guard is the recipient of the 2023 Connecticut Nurses Association Community Service Award.
The Connecticut Nurses Honor Guard was featured on Great Day Connecticut. Watch the segment here.
Membership
A Nurses Honor Guard member is a nurse living and/or working in Connecticut who is interested in being an active participant in the organization. Members may attend tributes or meetings, volunteer in other ways, or support us from the sidelines.
How the Connecticut Chapter Came to Be
After hearing about honor guards in other states through Facebook and friends, Maria Cusano-Sanzo, Shaina Hamel, and Athena Mains all reached out to the national coalition around the same time in the winter of 2021. Connected through the coalition, they got together, reached out to colleagues to gauge the level of interest and started meeting monthly to brainstorm ideas. They pooled some money together, bought a half dozen lamps, had a “soft launch” in September that year and performed their first tribute in October.