A Moment of Honor at Arlington National Cemetery

Few places carry the weight of service and sacrifice quite like Arlington National Cemetery.

Reserve Care nurses Lori Keegan and Denise Bullion recently had the opportunity to take part in a Nurse Honor Guard ceremony there, helping lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

For Lori, the experience was both humbling and unforgettable.

“It was such an honor for me and our local Nursing Honor Guard to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” she said. “To view the endless uniform rows of more than 400,000 white marble gravestones placed over 600 acres instilled the greatest sense of awe.”

Standing among the graves of generations of service members deepened her appreciation for the sacrifice of veterans, active-duty military members and their families.

The Nurse Honor Guard attended in traditional white nursing uniforms, complete with nursing caps and Florence Nightingale-style capes. Throughout the visit, people from across the United States and other countries stopped to thank the nurses for their service and commitment to caring for others. Some were health care professionals. Others shared memories of loved ones who had been nurses.

Those interactions gave Lori a new perspective on what a uniform can represent. Just as a military uniform can symbolize service, sacrifice and commitment to something greater than oneself, the Nurse Honor Guard uniform represented a profession built on caring for others.

The experience also prompted her to think about the people whose service may not be immediately visible. Veterans, nurses, caregivers and countless others may spend their lives serving others without wearing a uniform that identifies that contribution.

That reflection closely connects to Reserve Care’s mission.

Every day, our teams have the privilege of caring for veterans and their families during some of life’s most important moments. Through specialized veterans programming, recognition ceremonies and compassionate end-of-life care, we work to honor each veteran’s service, story and legacy.

We also recognize that a life of service can take many forms. The people we care for have served their country, raised families, cared for neighbors, strengthened communities and supported others throughout their lives. Taking the time to understand those stories and honor them with dignity, gratitude and respect is an important part of the care we provide.

We are grateful to Lori and Denise for representing Reserve Care and our mission at Arlington National Cemetery and for carrying that commitment to service into such a significant moment of remembrance.