This year, during Nurses Week, members and friends of the New Mexico Nurses Association gathered for a simple but meaningful act of remembrance. As solar lights illuminated the gravesites of nurses who came before us, we paused to recognize a truth that is often overlooked: the history of nursing in New Mexico was built by individuals whose names, stories, and contributions deserve to be remembered.

The project began with a question that has guided much of my work in nursing history: Who were they? Before us were generations of nurses who cared for patients during epidemics, delivered babies in rural communities, worked in public health, served in schools, hospitals, and military settings, and advocated for better healthcare across our state. Many of their names are unfamiliar today, yet their influence remains woven into the profession we practice every day.

The New Mexico Nurses Association has long recognized the importance of preserving our profession’s history. After all, National Nurses Day itself has roots in New Mexico. In 1982, Nurse Carol Lewis proposed the idea of a national day to recognize nurses, and with the support of NMNA and Congressman Manuel Lujan, legislation was passed that ultimately led to the establishment of National Nurses Day. That remarkable piece of nursing history belongs to New Mexico, and it reminds us that nurses here have helped shape healthcare far beyond our state borders.

This year’s cemetery lighting initiative was designed to honor that legacy. The lights symbolized the compassion, dedication, and guidance nurses provide throughout their careers. Watching those lights glow at dusk was a powerful reminder that while a nurse’s shift may end, their impact does not. The care they provided continues to ripple through families, communities, healthcare systems, and future generations of nurses.

What surprised me most was the response from participants. Many shared stories of nurses they had known personally. Others reflected on how little they knew about the nurses buried in their own communities. Several remarked that they had never considered visiting a nurse’s gravesite before. The experience transformed a historical project into something deeply personal. It connected us not only to the past, but also to one another.

This first effort is only the beginning.

Our vision for next year is to expand the project across New Mexico. We hope to partner with local nurses, nursing students, healthcare organizations, and community members to identify nurses buried in cemeteries throughout the state. By placing lights at these gravesites during Nurses Week, we can create a statewide tribute that honors the contributions of nurses from every region of New Mexico.

In doing so, we also hope to preserve stories that might otherwise be lost. Every nurse has a story worth telling. Some served their communities for decades. Others pioneered new roles, advocated for patients, taught future nurses, or cared for neighbors during times of crisis. Together, these stories form the foundation of our profession.

As we look toward the future of nursing, it is important that we remember those who built the path we now walk. Honoring our history strengthens our professional identity and reminds us that nursing has always been more than a job. It is a calling grounded in service, compassion, advocacy, and leadership.

The lights we placed this year illuminated more than gravesites. They illuminated a legacy.

As NMNA continues this work, we invite nurses throughout New Mexico to join us in helping identify nurse gravesites, preserve nursing history, and ensure that the contributions of those who came before us are never forgotten.

Together, we honor our history, protect our legacy, and build the future of nursing.