Yuma Dedicates Memorial Bench to Honor Nurses at Gateway Park

The Southern Arizona Nurse Honor Guard gathered in Yuma on November 11, 2025 to dedicate a memorial bench at Gateway Park at Pivot Point Plaza along the Colorado River, KAWC reported the same day. The ceremony featured a Nightingale Tribute to honor nurses who have died, and it established the bench as a visible site for reflection and appreciation within the community.

The dedication drew members of the Nurse Honor Guard and local residents to a prominent riverside spot often used for recreation and gatherings. Organizers described the guard as an organization formed to honor nursing colleagues, and the bench was presented as a tangible expression of that mission. The Nightingale Tribute was a central element of the ceremony, intended to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of nurses who devoted their careers to patient care.

Placing the bench at Pivot Point Plaza situates the memorial in a well trafficked public area, where visitors can pause and remember the role of nurses in local health care. For families of nursing professionals and for current health workers in Yuma County, the bench offers a place to grieve, to celebrate, and to reflect on the community impact of caregiving. The installation provides a focal point for future commemorations and a quiet setting for individual remembrance.

The event also served as a public reminder of the everyday work of nurses in hospitals, clinics, long term care facilities and emergency settings across Yuma County. While the ceremony honored those who have passed, it also highlighted the broader purpose of the Honor Guard in recognizing professional service and fostering community awareness of nursing as a critical component of local health infrastructure.

By creating a permanent marker along the Colorado River, the Southern Arizona Nurse Honor Guard established a local landmark that ties personal loss to public recognition. The memorial bench complements other community efforts to honor health professionals and creates an accessible place where residents can acknowledge the contributions of nurses. As Yuma continues to navigate health challenges and support its healthcare workforce, the bench stands as a modest but meaningful symbol of gratitude and remembrance.

The dedication on November 11 added a new element to Gateway Park, offering both residents and visitors a place to remember and to recognize the essential role that nurses play in the wellbeing of the Yuma community.