NORFOLK — Deb Schmit, retired RN of Osmond, became a member of the Nebraska Nurse Honor Guard on Sunday, March 2. Deb served as a nurse at Osmond General Hospital from Jan. 1, 1973, to Dec. 31, 2019. She worked in the cardiac rehab unit starting in 1994. Ten nurses in total from northeast Nebraska joined the honor guard on Sunday at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk. Others becoming members of the Nursing Honor Guard for this area were Julie Loberg and Joan Thies of Randolph. The Northeast Area includes West Point, Norfolk, Wayne and surrounding communities. The Nebraska Nurse Honor Guard provides a brief tribute at the funeral or memorial service of deceased active or retired nursing professionals. Honor guard services include a reciting of the Florence Nightingale Pledge, the placing of a white rose on the casket or urn signifying the nurse’s devotion to their profession, as well as the awarding of a nursing lamp to a living representative of the deceased.
Deb Zobel, RN, president and founder of the Nebraska Nurse Honor Guard, gave a presentation on Sunday about what the honor guard is all about. Dee Moeller, RN, representative for the northeast area, also spoke and announced the names of the new members.
Member Mary Paeper, RN, of the northeast area, placed the cape on Deb’s shoulders, and Patricia Moeller, RN, also of this area, pinned the cap.
Deb had heard about the program at another nurse’s funeral, where the honor guard had attended and provided a tribute, and decided to fill out the form to serve in this area.
Daughter Erica Frahm commented, “You know Mom, she has a big heart and always wants to give back, so this was just another way for her to be there for others.”
More information about the Nebraska Nurse Honor Guard, and a listing of the nurses who are members may be found at www.nebraskanursehonorguard.org.
