North Texas Nurse Honor Guard's Final Salute to Vietnam War Nurse

Honoring a Lifetime of Service

• 🕊️ Joanne Mashman Woods, an 81-year-old nurse who served as a flight nurse during the Vietnam War, was honored at her funeral in North Dallas.
• 🌟 Her remarkable life included roles as a hospital nurse and flight attendant, with her sisters and niece also becoming nurses.

The North Texas Nurse Honor Guard

• 👩‍⚕️ Seven retired nurses, volunteering as the North Texas Nurse Honor Guard, performed a special tribute at Joanne's graveside.
• 🔔 Dressed in vintage nurse uniforms, they rang a bell, calling "Nurse Joanne, please report for duty," a final call she could no longer answer.
• 💖 The Honor Guard's mission is to provide comfort and a final salute to nurses, acknowledging their lifetime of service and the difference they made.

Meaningful Tributes

• 🕯️ The Honor Guard has performed this tribute 36 times in the last two years, offering a symbol of a nurse's service, a reading of the Florence Nightingale pledge, and a final goodbye.
• 💔 Sandy Hardy shared how the same tribute to his wife, Carol, last year provided immense comfort, calling her an "angel" sent to care for others.
• 🤝 The ceremony signifies that the nurse's tasks are complete and their shift has ended, acknowledging their dedication.

The Nursing Profession

• 🇺🇸 With an estimated 5.2 million registered nurses in the US, the profession demands long hours and can take an intense physical and emotional toll.
• 🤝 The honor guard represents a brotherhood and sisterhood within the nursing community, offering a final moment of compassion to a colleague who dedicated their life to helping humanity.