JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
The McDonald Army Health Center hosted a ceremony in honor of the 114th U.S. Army Nurse Corps birthday at Fort Eustis, Virginia Feb. 2, 2015.
This year's theme aimed to demonstrate nurses' courage to care, connect and change. The event aimed to honor the achievements of all nurses and celebrate their dedication and selflessness when caring for beneficiaries.
"I appreciate that we set aside time to acknowledge our long and rich history of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps," said Col. Glenda J. Lock, McDonald Army Health Center commander. "Today we are acknowledging Army nursing as a bigger scope of our proud profession, a profession that has been number one for a few years."
The ANC was established in 1901 as a permanent corps within the U.S. Army Medical Department, originating from the acts of advocates who pushed for a professional nursing element within the U.S. Army.
During the ceremony, Col. Vinette Gordon, ANC deputy chief, spoke to audience members on courage and changes within the corps, while encouraging the audience members to share their stories from their own careers.
After listening to audience members tell their stories, Gordon thanked them for what they did and do and told the crowd that courage comes in all shapes and sizes, encouraging them to show be courageous.
"Courage; this invisible value gives us the wisdom to stand up for what is right," said Gordon. "[As an ANC member I want you to] speak up when something is not right, raise your hand to do, to go and guide us."
Gordon concluded her speech on the constant possible change within the nursing profession.
"Change is here, I encourage you to take a more active and prominent role in your practice, we are all constantly faced with change." she said. "How are you involved with change?"
To complete the ceremony the crowd watched as Gordon the youngest and oldest ANC members at Fort Eustis cut a ceremonial cake that was followed by the playing of the Army Song.