May 1, 2025 The Beacon • 11
Nightingale Honor Guard available for nurses’ funerals
By Jen Jones The Beacon
The Coshocton County
Nightingale Honor Guard is a group of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who provide a tribute service at a nurse’ s funeral. The service honors the years of commitment and service a nurse has provided. RN Jackie Mason is part of
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We always welcome new honor guard members, and we have training sessions every year and as needed.
RN Jackie Mason
” the local Nightingale Honor Guard. She has a record of a service performed in 2010 by one nurse for another but believes there were other tribute services before that.
“ Diane Eastman, R. N., was organizing a group before 2010 and encouraged me to participate,” Mason said.“ Another early honor guard member was Debbie Graham, who was very active until health issues prevented her to participate.”
There are currently 28 members of the local Nightingale Honor Guard, with 20 being active.
“ Some members are limited due to work schedules. We always welcome new honor guard members, and we have training sessions every year and as needed,” Mason said.
The tribute that is presented
Submitted
The Coshocton County Nightingale Honor Guard is a group of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who provide a tribute service at a nurse’ s funeral. Pictured are Melody Albertson, left, Kathy Kohler, Kathy Bauman; row two, Sue Newhouse, Linda Wells, Iris Marcentile; row three, Lisa Jackson, Jackie Mason, Cindy Abood; row four, JoAnn Wolfgang, Sherri Bradford, Sunshine Shannon, Kathy Tenney and Jim Wiandt.
was developed by the Kansas State Nurses Association in 2003.
“ We have gone to each funeral home in Coshocton, Warsaw and Newcomerstown, introducing our honor guard, and have given them pamphlets for family,” Mason said.“ If they have a family desire, they call me. I will then put out the call‘ we have a mission’ with a date, time and place.
“ Those that are available will then meet at the funeral home, cemetery or place of memorial service. The service is very moving, and we have had many family members thank us for the emotional service and even recruited a few new members.”
Anyone who would like more information about the Coshocton County Nightingale Honor Guard can email Mason at jackiemason75 @ gmail. com.
Submitted
May 6 is Nurses Day, but a group of Coshocton nurses work hard all year to honor nurses during their funerals.
Submitted The Coshocton County Nightingale Honor Guard members practice for their services.