The Nurses Honor Guard began in 2003, under the Kansas State Nurses Association. The goal was to create an honor guard for nurses to recognize an individual’s career-long dedication to nursing and to pay respect at the end of a nurse’s life. The idea was based on a service that military, police, and firefighters perform for their fallen colleagues. For a long time, it was a service available only in Kansas. As nurses began to see the tributes at conferences, other groups started around the country. In 2011, one of those nurses attended a conference in Detroit, Michigan, and brought the concept back to her Professional Practice group in Lansing, Michigan. Julia Godby Murray, RN, saw the presentation and decided to share the practice nationwide. She began by reaching out to groups through social media. As of 2023, there are over 250 local chapters, and new groups continue to form.

Portland, Oregon’s Chapter History

Our chapter reflects the spirit of Oregon that celebrates community, culture, and the state’s natural bounty. The trail that formed the Portland, Oregon Nurse Honor Guard began as a conversation and, like the Oregon Trail, has taken some unexpected turns. In May 2026, a group consisting of a few nurses: Kelly Blanco, Devota Hare, Molly McCormick, Chelsea Mena, Bethane Schmidt, and Brie Wallace, met with Salem and Southwest Washington’s Nurse Honor Guard representatives. With their guidance, the Portland group began our journey.