News

Reserve Airman named citizen-soldier of the year

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  Despite the title, the Howard O. Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year award has gone to a Reserve Airman.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber's Military Affairs Committee joined with the Kiwanis Club of Tacoma in presenting the annual award to Master Sgt. Lance Nelson, 728th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, McChord Field, Wash., at a lunch-time ceremony April 15.

The Citizen-Soldier Award memorializes Howard Scott, a native of Tacoma who served in World War II and returned to his community to succeed as a banker, giving much of his time to community service organizations.

Nelson, a traditional Reservist, also serves as a firefighter and emergency medical technician with the West Pierce Fire and Rescue.

"With all of his activities and tireless devotion to making his community a better place for children and adults alike," said Master Sgt. Richard Lutz, who nominated Nelson for the award.

Not only does Nelson serve in his professional life, he is serves his community as the Evergreen Elementary School PTA president, sits on the Bethel School District Long Range Facilities Planning Team, is a board member for the Bethel Recreation Association, is active in Boy Scouts, and serves on his homeowners association board.

As a firefighter, Nelson volunteers on the West Pierce Fire and Rescue Public Education Team, teaching children in elementary schools fire prevent and life safety. He has a starring role in the Fire Prevent Week assemblies at various schools and has volunteered for the Read Across America Program where he visits classrooms to read to children.

In his association with the Bethel Recreation Association, a non-profit organization providing recreation athletics for 17 elementary and six middle schools in the Bethel School District, Nelson is a volunteer coach, sometimes coaching up to two teams at a time.