Senator Standridge Celebrates Local Nurse, Veteran After Senate Adjourns Without Recognizing Her

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, released the following statement today recognizing a nurse and veteran from her district who was invited to be the Senate's Nurse of the Day earlier this week, on a day when the Senate didn't conduct any business. 

"On Wednesday, May 6, Registered Nurse Eileen Kupper-Grubbs was on the Oklahoma State Senate's agenda to be recognized on the Senate floor for her extraordinary service to the State of Oklahoma as the Senate Nurse of the Day. I showed up myself to work that day. Sadly, without notice to Nurse Grubbs or myself, Senate leadership instructed enough senators to stay home and not come to work so that quorum could not be achieved. Because the Senate failed to achieve a quorum, session was adjourned and the recognition she so richly deserved never took place.

"What should have been a moment of gratitude and honor became a moment of disappointment. For that, I offer my heartfelt apology to Eileen and her family. No one who has devoted a lifetime to serving others — especially our veterans — should ever be invited to the Capitol to be honored, only to have that recognition denied because elected officials failed to show up to work.

"Over my time in office, I have had the privilege of getting to know Eileen and witnessing firsthand the compassion, humility and servant leadership that define her life. Her dedication to our nation’s veterans is not something she turns on and off — it is who she is. She dedicated her professional nursing career to caring for veterans at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Even in retirement, she continues serving those who served us all through her work as 2nd Vice Commander of Norman American Legion Post 88.

"I have watched Eileen tirelessly organize events, support veterans and their families and ensure that the sacrifices of our servicemen and women are never forgotten. She leads with a deep love of country and a profound respect for those willing to defend it."

When asked why she chose to become a VA nurse, Kupper-Grubbs said:

“I am a veteran, and my father, brother, and one sister were in the Army. Veterans are a precious few who would die for the United States. I wanted to be part of their care.”

"Those words capture the heart of who she is — someone who answered the call to serve long after her own uniform was put away," Standridge said. 

"Today, I ask all Oklahomans to join me in recognizing and thanking Nurse Eileen Kupper-Grubbs for a lifetime of selfless service, compassion, and unwavering devotion to our veterans and our community," the Senator said. "While Senate Leadership may have failed to properly honor her on Wednesday, her example of service, sacrifice, and patriotism stands far above any missed ceremony."