Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber selects Citizen-Soldier Award recipient

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber announced Tuesday it has presented the 2014 Howard O. Scott Citizen-Airman of the Year Award to Master Sergeant Lance Nelson, a long-time loadmaster in the 729th Airlift Squadron, 446th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Lewis McChord-McChord Field, where he also serves as flight leader in the squadron and manages training for his flight.

In addition to his military service, Master Sergeant Nelson volunteers at the West Pierce Fire and Rescue, where he teaches children in elementary schools fire prevention and life safety, and appears in the Fire Prevention Week assemblies at various schools, and participates in the Read Across America Program by visiting classrooms to read to children; Evergreen Elementary School, where he is the current Evergreen Elementary School PTA President and has been a member of the PTA for the last seven years; Bethel School District Long Range Facilities Planning Team, where he represents Evergreen Elementary School to develop a list of projects to present to the school board for the next bond issue; Bethel Recreation Association, where he has coached basketball, football, soccer, and baseball; and Boy Scouts of America, where he is active in troop campouts, fundraising, and meeting management.

Each year, the Citizen-Soldier Award, which is sponsored by America’s Credit Union, memorializes Howard O. Scott, who grew up in Tacoma, served during World War II, and retired as a Tacoma banker who volunteered for a range of community service organizations.

Amy Tiemeyer, Military Relations Liaison at America's Credit Union presented this year's Howard O. Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year Award to 446th Airlift Wing Master Sergeant Lance Nelson. (PHOTO COURTESY TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY CHAMBER) — Amy Tiemeyer, Military Relations Liaison at America’s Credit Union presented this year’s Howard O. Scott Citizen-Soldier of the Year Award to 446th Airlift Wing Master Sergeant Lance Nelson. (PHOTO COURTESY TACOMA-PIERCE COUNTY CHAMBER)

To read the Tacoma Daily Index‘s complete and comprehensive coverage of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s Annual Howard O. Scott Citizen-Airman of the Year Award, click on the following links: