“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.

Testimonials

“A year later we remain so grateful for the role and tribute at our mom’s send-off. The Nightingale Tribute and your kind words touched everyone in attendance. We send our deepest thanks.”

“You brought comfort to our family in a time of deep pain, as you do for your patients every day. We appreciate all that you do, and thank you for helping to send our mother to her next destination peacefully.”

“On behalf of my grandfather and our entire family, we would like to extend our sincere and heartfelt gratitude for the beautiful Nightingale tribute at our grandmother's service. We were very touched by your ceremony; it was so moving with many personal touches. We feel thankful to have honored our grandmother’s dedication to nursing and her life-long career. We know she was looking down and smiling. Your presence truly added so much, and helped to make our grandmother’s service comforting to all who loved her. We will be forever grateful.”

“Thank you for the beautiful Nightingale Tribute at my mother’s funeral. It was a lovely way to honor her. Words cannot express how touched and appreciative our family was.”

“Your participation in Katie's wake brought the room to tears. Good tears!!”

“Thank you to you and the other Honor Guard members.  Your words and your presence were beautiful and were a wonderful tribute to our sister and to the nursing profession.”

“The personalized ceremony portrayed the caring dedication and kindness nurses have in their careers.”

“The Nightingale tribute left all of us humbled as it reminded us of all the sacrifices that nurses make every day.”