Trew Nelson, a Coal Ridge High School graduate, recently made history as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Honor Guard. The 20-year-old seaman participated in two major events: the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter in Plains, Georgia, and the inaugural honor ceremony for President Donald Trump.

In the span of three weeks, Nelson played key roles in these historic moments, representing his branch with distinction. He was one of 60 guards of honor at Carter’s funeral and stood in the platoon during President Trump’s ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.

“It’s such an honor,” Nelson said. “It’s just so wild. The thing for me is how I’m from such a small town in Colorado, and now I’m in D.C. doing ceremonies. I literally just joined the Coast Guard. I’m just some E-3, and I’m doing ceremonies for the president. It’s a big shock, it’s awesome, it’s an honor, it’s all those things.”

Nelson, who grew up in New Castle, knew from an early age that he wanted to serve others. He credits a childhood conversation with his mother about the 2011 tsunami in Japan as the moment he decided to join the military.

“There was a tsunami in Japan, and I remember talking with my mom about it,” Nelson said. “If there was some way to help, we should try to help the people there that were struggling. That was the first time I remember wanting to go into the military and wanting to help people.”

At Carter’s funeral, Nelson was part of a group of six Coast Guard members assigned to six-hour shifts standing guard over the casket. He described the experience as both nerve-wracking and humbling.

“I was very nervous the first time I stood watch over Jimmy Carter,” Nelson said. “There are people constantly walking through the area, just staring at you. They’re there to see President Carter, of course, but some would just stand there and stare at us to see if we would move. We aren’t supposed to move our eyes or our bodies. We’re supposed to be statues. After the first time, though, it was just business as usual.”

At the end of January, Nelson also participated in Trump’s inaugural honor ceremony, a tradition with deep historical roots. Held in the Capitol’s lobby, the ceremony was broadcast to an estimated 24 million people nationwide.

“We don’t really get a lot of awards,” Nelson said. “That’s the thing with the job; we do all these cool things but don’t really get the recognition. Our job is to stand there, stand still. So, it makes sense we don’t get a ton of recognition. It’s like a high-five, and then we move on.”

Nelson graduated from Coal Ridge in 2022 and enlisted in the Coast Guard soon after. During boot camp, he earned the rank of E-3 and was selected for the prestigious Honor Guard.

“I absolutely was shooting to get into the Honor Guard,” Nelson said. “Me and a couple of my closest friends ended up stationed together. If I wasn’t doing this, I’d probably be painting the sides of boats or doing a job no one wants to do.”

Military service runs in Nelson’s family. Both his parents are Air Force veterans, though he ultimately chose a different branch after a conversation with his father.

“My dad talked me into joining the Coast Guard,” Nelson said. “Both my parents were in the Air Force, so there was a push to follow them. But my dad thought I could be more helpful in the Coast Guard. The other branches do a lot during wartime, but the Coast Guard helps more consistently. I like that we don’t rely on conflict to serve others.”

Nelson’s dream has always been to become a pilot, a goal he’s now close to achieving.

“My dream is to be a pilot and fly search-and-rescue missions,” Nelson said. “I’ve wanted to work around aircraft for as long as I can remember. That’s what drew me to the Coast Guard. We’ll see what happens, but that’s what I hope to be doing in the next few months.”

Nelson’s mother, Tricia Nelson, said her son’s path has always been clear.

“He’s known since he was little what he wanted to do,” she said. “He’s always been a leader and ready to fight for what’s right. I remember him standing next to fighter jets as a kid and saying, ‘I’m going to do this one day.’ I would have been more shocked if he said he didn’t want to join the military.”

With his dedication and accomplishments, Nelson is well on his way to fulfilling his lifelong dream.