Adventist Health Nurse Starts the First Central Valley Nurse Honor Guard to Pay Tribute to Colleagues Who Have Passed

First tribute honors a Tulare nurse who faithfully served the community for 35 years

An Adventist Health nurse from Hanford, who simply wanted to join a Nurse Honor Guard to pay tribute to her colleagues at their time of passing, has officially launched the first Central Valley chapter.

Trista Campos, RN and Director of Care Coordination at Adventist Health Central California Network, was so moved by a Nurse Honor Guard tribute she saw online that she sought to join a local chapter. After much research and several emails later, she learned a chapter did not exist in the Central Valley, so she created her own non-profit organization. The first member she recruited was her mother, an RN in the Emergency Department at Adventist Health Hanford.

“After watching the tribute, I knew I had to be a part of this special ceremony in some way,” said Campos. “The tribute provides closeness for nurses, closure for families, and awareness about those who sacrifice so much of their lives to the nursing profession.”

The Nurse Honor Guard is similar to the Military Honor Guard, but instead of a 21-gun salute to respect, honor, and pay tribute to fallen heroes, the Nurse Honor Guard carries a Florence Nightingale lamp with a candle, and a white rose. Florence Nightingale, a pioneer of modern nursing, was known as the “Lady with the Lamp” because of her night rounds while caring for soldiers during the war. The white rose is meant to symbolize a nurse’s dedication.

In March 2025, Campos and 9 other nurses coordinated their first tribute to Ena Menezes, an Adventist Health Tulare nurse in the Medical Surgical Department, who dedicated 35 years of her life to caring for patients. Menezes passed away from a rare form of breast cancer that she fought for more than eight years.

Dawning their white traditional uniforms, hats, and capes, the Central Valley Nurse Honor Guard began Ena’s memorial service by asking all of the nurses in attendance to stand.

“Half of the congregation stood up,” said Campos. “It was breathtaking.”

After reciting the Florence Nightingale pledge, the Nurse Honor Guard rang a bell, calling Ena to report to duty. The bell chimed a second time. And after the third chime, the Nurse Honor Guard officially relieved Ena of her nursing duties, then blew out the candle on the lamp, and presented the white rose to her family.

“The final call to the nursing floor brought me and everyone else in the church to tears,” said Gerson Menezes, Ena’s son. “I wish every nurse could be honored that way because a lifelong career nurse deserves the recognition since they do so much for so many, every single day.”

Following the service, Campos said several nurses in attendance signed up to be a part of the Nurse Honor Guard. The group, which began with 10 humble volunteers, has now grown to nearly 60 participants. Members consist of certified and licensed nurses from throughout the Central Valley, including retired nurses.

The Nurse Honor Guard is a self-funded, non-profit organization. Campos received her first donation from the Adventist Health Volunteers program.

Anyone who would like to donate, join, or request the Central Valley Nurse Honor Guard for a nurse’s memorial service, can email: cvnursehonorguard@gmail.com