Dustin Hermansen had some expectations for his trip to Washington D.C. for the U.S. Senate Youth Program. As a participant in the program, he was able to spend time at the White House, the Supreme Court. He met the Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley.

But he never expected this.

Hermansen, a senior at Aberdeen Central, was selected as one of two participants in the program to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during the week-long program in early March.

“It was very intense and surreal,” Hermansen said, reflecting on the experience later.

It wasn’t Hermansen’s first D.C. foray. He’d been to Arlington National Cemetery before, even, on a family vacation when he was younger.

But this? This was weightier. It had gravity.

“I understood it a lot more this time, what service to your country actually means and what people have given up,” Hermansen said.

Throughout the week-long youth program, Hermansen said, participants were assigned military mentors. That’s how he came to be selected for the honor in the first place, after relaying his plans to join the Air Force Academy with intentions of going into the Judge Advocate General.

As he was preparing, Hermansen’s mentor asked him a question.

“Are you nervous?” he asked.

Hermansen answered in the affirmative.

“He said, ‘Good,’” Hermansen said. “That was the last thing he said to me. I was just like OK. I was hoping I didn’t slip and fall.”

Add to that, an impromptu family visit to the capital city for the ceremony and Hermansen said his heart was working extra hard.

“My heart was pumping the whole time,” he said. “I didn’t want to screw up. It was such an honor to be a part of it. It was just so amazing realizing where you’re at and what you’re doing. Very few people have been able to do what you’re about to do.”

Hermansen was the starting quarterback for the Golden Eagles this past fall and is also a member of the Central track and field squad this spring.

When the ceremony was over, his mentor had something else to say. What did Hermansen do wrong?

“Nothing. You did perfect. Have a good rest of the day,” he said.

It was a memorable end to a memorable week, one that won’t soon be forgotten, particularly given Hermansen’s chosen career path. Being in the JAG branch of the Air Force means, essentially, that he’ll be a lawyer, but regardless, he has his sites set on public service on some level.

“Going into the Academy, I’ll always think about that experience and think about how these people were on the same path as me. I just want to try and honor them with what I do.”