On May 13, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Naval Appropriations Bill authorizing the establishment of the Nurse Corps as a unique staff corps in the U.S. Navy. Several women answered the call to be the first official Navy nurses -- known today as "The Sacred Twenty."

The exact day, 108 years later, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) observed and celebrated the history, accomplishments and successes of the Navy Nurse Corps.

In a letter from Director of the Nurse Corps Rear Adm. R. J. McCormick-Boyle read during the ceremony, she highlighted the past and future of the corps.

"Our anniversary provides us an opportunity to reflect on the many contributions and accomplishments of Navy nurses over the past years," McCormick-Boyle stated. "From screening and teaching new recruits [at] Navy Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes, to assisting new parents at clinics and hospitals to ensure patient safety in the operating room, the Navy nurse team is leading and influencing important initiative throughout our health care system."

Other letters read during the ceremony were congratulations and birthday wishes from the leaders of the Dental Corps, Medical Corps, Medical Service Corps and Hospital Corps, as well as the Navy surgeon general.

After the letters were read, time was allotted for a special ceremony known as the Blessing of the Hands.

The blessing is a tradition performed on the Navy Nurse Corps birthday dating back to the 19th century. NMCP's chaplains have led the non-denominational ceremony for several years.

NMCP Chaplain Cmdr. Michael Chaney recited a prayer over a small container of oil, and then invited all the nurses in attendance to allow him to bless their hands. Each nurse participating in the blessing approached Chaney with their arms extended and palms facing upward. Using a small amount of the ordained oil, Chaney made a small cross on each palm to complete the Blessing of the Hands ritual.

Although it is a tradition observed by the Nurse Corps, anyone can have their hands prayed over during the ceremony as a way to confirm all NMCP staff members support the healing of every patient.

After the blessing, the oldest and youngest NMCP nurses, Capt. Sandra Hearn and Ensign Amy Derego cut the birthday cake which was then served to those in attendance.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil/, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy/, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy/.

For more news from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, visit http://www.navy.mil/.