Nurses Honor Guard of Monroe County NY

06/30/2026

Our volunteers celebrated a nurse today at her place of employment at URMC on her retirement day AND her 80th birthday! Congratulations M.D.! You touched so many lives during your long and storied career. Your colleagues at work demonstrated such high esteem for you, it was very apparent what an impact you have had in serving others. They surprised you with our presence and your response was perfect! You introduced yourself to each of us and asked each of us where we went to school. Your bright spirit is contagious!
Congratulations and Happy Birthday M.D.!

Thank you volunteers: Diane, Julia, Mary Ellen, Lisa, Ann Marie and Deb. What a wonderful thing you did today for one of our own.

06/21/2026

Nine of our members offered a heartfelt tribute this afternoon for JG as she slumbered in her room within the Palliative Care Unit at Highland Hospital. JG's family shared in the experience, as did several staff members. JG served over 60 years during her career, starting out at the age of 17 at Bellvue Hospital and continuing on to get her Masters as her career progressed. Her family shared stories of her continued caring throughout her years, and her absolute dedication to our profession. We left her with a great wish for peace, and with gratitude for carrying the torch so well for so long.
Thank you to our volunteers: Kathy V, Diane, Sylvania, Amy, Nancy, Jan, Kathy K, Debi H and Deb H. The kindness you shared with JG will never be forgotten.

06/19/2026

Today, our chapter received a donation of seven authentic nursing capes, some made right here in Rochester! These capes were among many that were archived in a historical display near Guilderland, NY. The capes were no longer needed but no worries! We will put them to good use as we carry on as Nurses Honoring Nurses! They are embroidered with the school initials and some of them have the owner's initials. They are simply beautiful. Such a relevant part of our shared history.
Thank you to Ann H. for transporting them for us. We will enjoy these for years to come.

06/15/2026

Julia Godby-Murray is amazing! She supports chapters all over the country!

Capes on the way! If you would like the ordering information about the capes please email Julia Godby Murray at [email protected]. I will send you all the information you need. Turnover time is 3-4 days from receipt of payment.
We have groups in every state. To find one near you please, email [email protected]

06/09/2026

Last Thursday, our volunteers partnered with our neighboring chapter, Finger Lakes Nurses Honor Guard (FLNHG), at two separate events.
In the morning, two of our volunteers joined FLNHG volunteers to honor J.O., who is a Geneva resident currently living in Monroe County. FLNHG has a beautiful description of that event on their page.
In the evening, volunteers from both chapters honored Jennifer Smalls and Nancy Iafrati at the GVNA Spring Banquet. Jennifer and Nancy were both active and vital members of GVNA, and both were well known within the nursing community around Rochester.

It's such a pleasure to work with colleagues from our neighboring chapters to honor these important colleagues. We are so fortunate.

Thank you to our volunteers from the morning: Carol and Debi, as well as all of those from FLNHG. Thank you Ruth (FLNHG) for arranging this and contacting us to join you.
Thank you to our volunteers from the evening: Debi, Jane, Annette, Laura, Diane (FLNHG), Sylvania, Michele and Lisa. Laura and Diane organized this event together and you are much appreciated.

I appreciate all of you spreading kindness and respect to others.

Sincerely,
Diane Martin, President Nurses Honor Guard of Monroe County NY
[email protected]
585-348-8252

05/17/2026

What a great day to celebrate our veterans! Honor Flight Rochester just completed Mission 95, their first all-female mission. We were proud to welcome home our heroes after they landed at the Rochester airport this afternoon. The airport was so full of wonderful humans!
Thank you Veterans, for your service. 🇺🇸
Thank you to our volunteers for receiving these heroes with your flags, waves, smiles and hugs. Our group included: Farress, Debi H, Debbie H, Michele, Jan, Nancy, Peg, Diane, Lindsay, and Sylvania. ❤
Thank you to Debi H. for suggesting that we attend this mission!

05/14/2026

Today our volunteers wrapped up our Nurses' Week celebrations with a presentation at the VA Outpatient Clinic. It's a large building with lots of services for our veterans, and there are many smiling faces employed there. They recorded our tribute so as to pass it along to those who were unable to be present.
Thank you to the VA for inviting us, and to Laura, our member who coordinated this event.
Thank you Laura, Deb, Carol, Marj, Julia, Diane and Lisa for attending and helping to spread the word about the work that we do. It's so important! ❤️
Nurses Honor Guard of Monroe County NY
[email protected]
585-348-8252

05/12/2026

Today is Florence Nightingale's birthday! Rochester Regional Health celebrated all week, and today was no different. We were invited to give a blessing to nurses past and present at 3 of their local entities: St. Mary's, Unity, and RGH. Our volunteers offered a beautiful tribute to the nurses who are carrying the torch today, and another for those who have gone before us and shown us the way. We are honored to have been there to praise the nurses at their workplaces today, as well as pay tribute to those who led the way for us all. Lots of conversations took place, which helps us spread the word about the work that we do.

Thank you volunteers: Sherri, Lisa, Judy, Diane, Alicia, Kelly, Debi, Sylvania, Michele, and Jean. You really demonstrate a rich respect for our fellow colleagues.

05/12/2026

Five of our volunteers paid respect to our newest colleagues at their pinning ceremony this evening. Nurses Honor Guard of Monroe County warmly welcomes these new nurses! It was a pleasure to see each of their loved ones pin them and share in the excitment of our profession. Happy Nurses' Week!
Thank you Rochester General College of Health Careers for inviting us to participate!
Thank you Kathy V., Kathy D., Marj, Deb, and Diane.

05/06/2026

We are thrilled to be featured in ROC City Lifestyle Magazine’s May 2026 issue and to share about our group’s mission of Nurses Honoring Nurses.

Digital copy available at:

When a nurse’s life and career come to an end, a small but meaningful ritual performed by a local nonprofit ensures their service is remembered. The Nurses Honor Guard (NHG) of Monroe County was founded in 2024 with a simple but powerful mission: “nurses honoring nurses.”