Honor Walk Today I saluted another soldier as he made his last trip through the doors at our hospital. Without notice and any time of the day or night an announcement will come over the hospital speakers that alert all to an “Honor Walk” within the next 10-15 minutes. Employees and veterans line the hallways as the deceased veteran is wheeled out the front door to the awaiting hearse. As the gurney goes by I salute and hold, as does other veterans, while dozens of doctors and nurses bow their heads in respect for the soldier’s service to our country. We all follow the soldier as they are loaded and on their final journey. Our hospital has a particular quilt that always graces their body in their final hours from their room to the transport and it is then ceremoniously folded; as carefully as the American flag; and returned to the palliative care unit for the next soul to depart. I have inserted the tradition from our website below. So for this TBT, I am showing the loving quilt and the tradition of the Honor Walk. At Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO) our Palliative Care staff is often fond of saying “our Veterans come in through the front door and they deserve to leave through it as well.” That is the philosophy behind VHSO’s Honor Walk. The idea, originally conceived by Arlene McAdams an APN at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center, is one way VHSO invites family members and staff to say good-bye to our Veterans with respect and compassion. The Honor Walk involves escorting deceased patients from the facility to the funeral van, but it is really so much more than that. It allows VHSO to encourage family members and staff to pay their respects and provides solace to those who knew and cared for the deceased Veteran. At VHSO, when a patient dies the Chaplain Service is called to serve the family, and helps serve as an escort in the details that follow the passing of a loved one, such a voicing a preference for a funeral home. The family members are able to spend private time with the deceased Veteran for as long as they need to say their good-byes, and then the funeral home will be called. It is after the funeral home staff arrives, that VHSO staff are notified of the opportunity to pay their respects when the patient is escorted on the Honor Walk from their room, commonly in our new Palliative Care Unit, to the entrance of the hospital where the funeral van waits. The body is covered in a patriotic quilt, and hospital staff line the hallway as the deceased patient’s body is taken from their room to the elevator, and continue to line the hallway to the entryway lobby. One particularly unique aspect of the Honor Walk is the patriotic quilt that is used to cover the Veteran’s body. VHSO’s palliative care psychologist, Michael Moravits, PhD, is married to a quilter, and his wife created VHSO’s first patriotic-themed quilt to drape over the departing Veteran as they are escorted from the hospital. Since that time other volunteers have also created quilts that they have donated to use on the Honor Walk. Wilma Waters, widow of Mitchell B. Waters a Veteran who passed away at VHSO earlier this year, said that even though his passing happened after 10 o’clock at night, it was very nice to see that all of the housekeeping staff were there to pay their respects. She also mentioned that two nurses, who worked 12 hours already that day, stayed for the Honor Walk. Cindy Roberts, a VA employee in Bay Pines, whose father passed away at VHSO, recalls a similar occurrence, that her “dad passed in the middle of the night, [and I] wasn’t expecting as much because it was two in the morning, but the people came and were waiting as my dad went. I have never in my life had an experience like that.” The dedication of the staff is heartwarming, but many of them would say that the Honor Walk helps them to mourn someone they have cared for as well. “Having talked to some of the nurses afterwards, it brings closure to them, because they become involved in the Veteran and his family’s life,” said Cindy. Towards the end of the Honor Walk, as the Veteran’s body, family members, and staff approach the lobby, a VA police officer will announce that a deceased Veteran is being escorted to the funeral van and request a moment of silence as a show of respect. When other Veterans are present, you truly understand how beautiful and meaningful the Honor Walk can be, as they stand to salute their fallen comrade. This is not a formal flag-folding ceremony, but allows for reflection and mourning for all involved. As Cindy Roberts imparts, “I wish there were words to describe it. And I wish ever single VA in the country did that. My father was a three war Veteran and served for over 20 years, and I think he is amazing, but they do it for everyone, doesn’t matter what they did except they served their country.” Cindy is right, VHSO serves all of our Veterans with the dignity and respect they deserve, and this includes in their passing as well. We are grateful to be able to offer this to those grieving the passing of a beloved Veteran.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 02:29:01 +0000