Mission:
The York County White Rose Nurse Honor Guard proudly serves the York, Pennsylvania area by respectfully honoring active and retired nurses near or after the end of their life’s journey. We honor them regardless of sex, gender, race, creed, national origin, or social status by providing, free of charge, the Nightingale Tribute to them prior to their death or at the funeral or memorial or celebration of life service.
Vision:
York County White Rose Nurse Honor Guard’s vision is that all nurses, worldwide, are seen, heard, known, respected, appreciated and honored throughout their lives and also at the end of their lives, for the gifts they offer daily to all those they come into contact with.
History:
Our founding member, Patricia Graybill-D’Ercole RN, attended the funerals of two nursing colleagues in 2022. As she sat quietly reading the program, she noticed “Nurse Honor Guard Tribute” as part of the plan. Soon, nurses in uniforms, caps and capes filed into the front of the church. The tribute included a reading, the lighting of a lamp and presentation of a white rose to the family. Pat found she had goosebumps and thought what wonderful recognition of a 50 year nursing career. As the nurses recessed, Pat pondered what the Nurse Honor Guard was all about. After attending a second tribute a few months later, she needed to know more, as these programs were very meaningful to family members and other nurses who were present. Pat set about internet research.
There was information about many chapters all around the county. Pat also found a contact for Julie Murray, the founder of the National Nurse Honor Guard Coalition, and they began to correspond. Further, Pat discovered there was a chapter in the neighboring county of Lancaster with a note that any LPN, RN or CRNP were welcomed at any meeting. Pat was at their next meeting.
Pat realized that this was not a project for one person. She spoke with several nurses who attended her church, and they were also interested. Now she had helpers! Pat contacted Julie and they set up a virtual meeting where many questions were asked and answered. This would become their first organizational meeting of the York County White Rose Nurse Honor Guard on September 13, 2023.This small group began the journey over several months creating bylaws, seeking information, creating documents and creating the necessary background for this venture. A call went out to friends and colleagues of this small group and the first general meeting was March 18, 2024. Many nurses attended and became members that evening.
