A Final Salute: Lorie Prokup Honors the Forgotten Nurses of Vietnam

Culture and Belonging | By |

This week, Daily Nurse proudly names Lorie Prokup as our Nurse of the Week—a passionate advocate for honoring the legacy of nurses who served, sacrificed, and never received the recognition they deserved.

Prokup is the president and co-founder of the Nurse Honor Guard of Eastern Ohio, a nonprofit organization of active and retired nurses who pay tribute to fellow nurses during funeral services through the Nightingale Tribute, a symbolic gesture of respect named after Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of modern nursing.

During the week of Memorial Day, when the Wall That Heals—a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial—arrived in Warren, Ohio, it brought with it nearly 53,000 names of those lost in the Vietnam War. Among them are eight nurses, and Prokup was determined they would not be forgotten.

“We’re nurses honoring nurses, and we really, really are honored to be able to do this,” said Prokup.

For her, it’s not just about history. It’s about closure.

“They have not had a Nightingale Tribute in spite of it being 50 years ago that the war ended,” Prokup said. “There still needs to be closure for a lot of different communities.”

That includes honoring First Lieutenant Sharon Ann Lane, the only nurse from Ohio killed in combat by enemy fire. Lane holds a unique place in both military and nursing history, and Prokup wants her bravery—and that of the other nurses—to be remembered and celebrated.

“It means a lot for us to be able to do a Nightingale service for these eight women on the wall,” Prokup added. “They are nurses. They deserve to be honored, and this is what we do.”

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Thanks to her leadership and dedication, Prokup ensures that the compassion and courage of nurses extend beyond the bedside, offering a final, dignified sendoff to those who have served.

Lorie Prokup exemplifies the heart and soul of nursing: service, remembrance, and unwavering respect. For that, we’re proud to name her our Nurse of the Week.

Nominate a Nurse of the Week! Every Wednesday, DailyNurse.com features a nurse making a difference in the lives of their patients, students, and colleagues. We encourage you to nominate a nurse who has impacted your life as the next Nurse of the Week, and we’ll feature them online and in our weekly newsletter.

Renee Hewitt
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