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We recently had a final salute for a veteran who passed away
while inpatient here at the Veterans hospital. A call went out to all employees
that there would be a dignified transfer of a deceased veteran, and we were all
invited to participate. I’ve done a few of them since starting work here and
yes, it can choke you up by its simple grace.
Called Dignified Transfer, Code Honor, and Honor Walk, Typically, it is a short notice call and everyone available goes to the designated ward and line up on both sides of the hallway from the patient’s room to the nearest exit. Sometimes the veteran is a organ donor and his next stop is the operating room to harvest his organs. Other times the veteran is transferred to a hearse to be prepared for their final journey.
An ad hoc formation, no one is really in charge, and while
waiting, everyone speaks in quiet whispers as the team prepares the veteran for
transport.
As the gurney carrying the veteran enters the hallway
someone calls the group to attention and present arms. Veterans like me
typically make a hand salute whereas the others place their hands over their
hearts. Looking up and down the hallway there were dozens of VA employees,
residents, interns, and students rendering honors. Cooks and Custodians stood
next to surgeons; nurses next to administrators with one purpose, that is to
honor this vet and to show his/her loved ones that they were indeed part of a larger
family.
As the flag-draped gurney passed I noted that there was no
indication of who the veteran was, what gender, or what race. Rank, branch of
service or position meant nothing, all we knew was this was a fellow veteran
beginning their final journey.
As the elevator doors closed the command to order arms and
carry on was given and we all quietly went back about our business of caring
for our fellow veterans.
Rest easy troop and tend the fire, we’ll all be a long soon
enough.
*These photos were not taken in my hospital, I found them on the web.
