Kris Garcia believes that nurses deserve our recognition, respect, and yes, even our honor, for the dedicated service they provide throughout their careers. As the president of the Greater Lansing chapter of the Nurses Honor Guard, Garcia and members of her chapter help pay tribute to those who spent their careers caring for others.
The Nurses Honor Guard is comprised of active and retired nurses who provide ceremonial services at the funerals of their colleagues. When a nurse passes away, the local chapter performs what’s known as the “Nightingale Tribute”, a moving ceremony named after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, that includes lighting of the lamp, reading about the deceased nurse’s service, and reciting a poem. One such poem, titled “She Was There,” is often recited during these memorial services.
“We feel as though the ceremonial services are a way to honor our colleagues who’ve passed,” says Garcia. “But we also honor nurses who are in hospice or nursing homes with living memorials.”
The Greater Lansing chapter serves families throughout the region, including Holt and surrounding communities. Local funeral homes and churches partner with the honor guard to provide these specialized services, ensuring that nurses who have dedicated their lives to caring for others receive the recognition they deserve. These tributes are provided free of charge to any active or retired licensed, registered or advanced practice nurse in their service area.
Although the group took a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, they restarted in 2024 and are actively recruiting new members. A recruitment event will be held on Thursday, September 25 at Buddy’s in Holt from 6-8 PM, where attendees can learn about the organization’s mission and bring friends who might be interested in joining.
The local chapter now has 30 members and operates as part of the National Nurses Honor Guard Coalition, which began in Kansas in 2003. With nearly 250 chapters throughout the United States and about 15 currently active in Michigan, the organization has built a nationwide network of nurses committed to honoring their profession’s legacy.
Garcia, who has called Holt home for 45 years, didn’t know a local chapter existed until she discovered potential efforts to bring the chapter back last year. The chapter originally operated from 2011 until 2021, when it disbanded. But when word spread about the restart through social media, a meeting in March was held. “That first meeting in March, there were maybe eight of us,” recalls Garcia. By their next meeting, Garcia says the number of members doubled, marking the official revival of the Greater Lansing Michigan Area Nurses Honor Guard.
The organization serves a vital purpose in communities like Greater Lansing, where local healthcare systems, including McLaren, Sparrow, and Eaton Rapids Medical, have served generations of families. According to the National Nurses Honor Guard Coalition, the organization exists because “nursing is not just a job—it’s a calling that requires extraordinary dedication, compassion, and sacrifice.”
During Nurses Week in May, the local chapter demonstrated their community commitment by serving breakfast at Eaton Rapids Medical and visiting McLaren Hospital to educate staff about its mission.
Garcia says she and members of her chapter also attended a Michigan coalition conference, where she was able to build new relationships, but also revisit old ones. “During the event, there was an opportunity to meet new people, but I was also able to reconnect with several of my colleagues from past jobs. That was the best”.
The honor guard operates as a dues-based organization with two primary goals: increasing membership and fundraising through sponsors and events. Vice President Wendy Swartz and Secretary-Treasurer Jan Denby work alongside Garcia to keep the organization running smoothly. For area nurses—both active and retired—the honor guard offers a meaningful way to continue serving their profession through ceremonies that provide comfort to grieving families while celebrating the profound impact nurses have on our community.
The local chapter invites anyone interested in learning more about their mission to attend the September recruitment event or reach out through their Facebook page. In a community where neighbors look out for one another, the Nurses Honor Guard represents the same spirit of care and service that defines both the nursing profession and the region itself.
To learn more about the Greater Lansing Michigan Area Nurses Honor Guard, head over to their Facebook page for meeting announcements and information on upcoming events: https://www.facebook.com/p/Greater-Lansing-Michigan-Area-Nurses-Honor-Guard-61564768712110/